Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...

Plague

Plague

Plague is a highly virulent zoonotic disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic coccobacillus. This pathogen primarily circulates among rodent populations and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. Additional transmission routes include direct contact with infected animal tissue or inhalation of respiratory droplets from individuals with pneumonic plague. These multiple transmission pathways highlight the bacterium’s potential for rapid...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Outcomes of transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas in Spain: a retrospective multicenter study.

Frontiers in endocrinology·2025

Same author

Development of a Molecular Method for the Detection of Enteric Viruses in Oysters.

Journal of food protection·2019

Same author

Surgical intervention for thoracic outlet syndrome improves patient's quality of life.

Journal of vascular surgery·2009

Same author

First rib resection and scalenectomy for chronically occluded subclavian veins: what does it really do?

Annals of vascular surgery·2008

Same author

Responding to water contamination threats.

Environmental science & technology·2005

Same author

UV inactivation of Cryptosporidium hominis as measured in cell culture.

Applied and environmental microbiology·2005

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Monitoring the Assembly of a Secreted Bacterial Virulence Factor Using Site-specific Crosslinking

Monitoring the Assembly of a Secreted Bacterial Virulence Factor Using Site-specific Crosslinking

Published on: December 17, 2013

Virulence factor-activity relationships: workshop summary.

Ricardo De Leon¹

¹Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 700 Moreno Avenue, La Verne, CA 91750, USA. Ricardo_deleon@mwdh2o.com

Journal of Water and Health

|September 1, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Virulence factor-activity relationships (VFAR) offer a systematic method to identify new microbial contaminants. This approach parallels quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) for chemical contaminants, aiding in pathogen discovery.

More Related Videos

A Rapid Image-based Bacterial Virulence Assay Using Amoeba

A Rapid Image-based Bacterial Virulence Assay Using Amoeba

Published on: June 27, 2018

A Comparative Approach to Characterize the Landscape of Host-Pathogen Protein-Protein Interactions

A Comparative Approach to Characterize the Landscape of Host-Pathogen Protein-Protein Interactions

Published on: July 18, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Monitoring the Assembly of a Secreted Bacterial Virulence Factor Using Site-specific Crosslinking

Monitoring the Assembly of a Secreted Bacterial Virulence Factor Using Site-specific Crosslinking

Published on: December 17, 2013

A Rapid Image-based Bacterial Virulence Assay Using Amoeba

A Rapid Image-based Bacterial Virulence Assay Using Amoeba

Published on: June 27, 2018

A Comparative Approach to Characterize the Landscape of Host-Pathogen Protein-Protein Interactions

A Comparative Approach to Characterize the Landscape of Host-Pathogen Protein-Protein Interactions

Published on: July 18, 2013

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Environmental Science
Toxicology

Background:

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) estimate chemical contaminant toxicity based on structural similarities.
Emerging diseases and microbial contaminants pose risks to public health.
Identifying novel pathogens requires systematic and scientific approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce and advocate for the Virulence Factor-Activity Relationships (VFAR) approach.
To establish VFAR as a method for identifying new microbial contaminants.
To support the selection of microorganisms for regulatory lists like the Contaminant Candidate List (CCL).

Main Methods:

Analogous application of QSAR principles to microbial virulence factors.
Utilizing known virulence factors as predictors for undiscovered pathogens.
Leveraging advances in molecular biology, genomics, and proteomics.

Main Results:

VFAR provides a framework for predicting the pathogenic potential of microorganisms.
The approach offers a more systematic and scientific alternative to traditional methods.
VFAR can aid in the proactive identification of emerging microbial threats.

Conclusions:

VFAR is a promising approach for identifying novel microbial contaminants.
The National Research Council recommends VFAR for EPA's Contaminant Candidate List.
This strategy enhances the scientific basis for microbial risk assessment and management.