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Subverting Host Cell P21-Activated Kinase: A Case of Convergent Evolution across Pathogens
Simona John Von Freyend1, Terry Kwok-Schuelein2,3, Hans J Netter4,5
1Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia. simona.johnvonfreyend@monash.edu.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 22, 2017
Summary
Human p21-activated kinase (PAK) is crucial for infections by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. PAK inhibitors show potential for treating cancers and infectious diseases, offering new therapeutic avenues.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Pathogen Biology
Background:
- Intracellular pathogens manipulate host cell signaling pathways for survival and replication.
- Human serine/threonine kinase PAK (p21-activated kinase) is implicated in host-pathogen interactions.
- PAK proteins are vital for cellular functions and are targets in cancer research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the central role of human PAK1 in infections by diverse pathogens.
- To explore the potential of PAK inhibitors as therapeutics for both cancer and infectious diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on PAK and host-pathogen interactions.
- Analysis of PAK's role in infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasitic protists.
Main Results:
- Human PAK1 plays a surprisingly central role in infections by various pathogens.
- PAK is exploited by pathogens to subvert host cell functions.
- PAK's involvement in cell proliferation and survival is key to its role in infection.
Conclusions:
- PAK inhibitors represent a promising therapeutic strategy for a broad spectrum of infectious diseases.
- Targeting PAK offers a dual approach for treating neoplastic and infectious diseases.
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