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The enterococcal PASTA kinase: A sentinel for cell envelope stress
Dušanka Djorić1, Nicole E Minton1, Christopher J Kristich1
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Molecular Oral Microbiology
|September 18, 2020
Summary
Enterococci, hardy pathogens resistant to antibiotics, utilize PASTA kinases for sensing and responding to environmental stress. Understanding this signaling pathway is crucial for developing new treatments against enterococcal infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
- Signal Transduction
Background:
- Enterococci are Gram-positive, opportunistic pathogens known for antibiotic resistance and hardiness.
- Their ability to tolerate environmental stressors complicates treatment of infections.
- Bacterial serine/threonine kinases (eSTKs) and phosphatases (STPs) are key regulators of adaptive responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of PASTA kinase signaling in enterococci.
- To identify knowledge gaps in PASTA kinase function and its role in enterococcal biology.
- To explore PASTA kinase as a potential target for novel anti-enterococcal therapies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on PASTA kinases in enterococci.
- Analysis of genomic data regarding PASTA kinase and phosphatase encoding.
- Discussion of experimental findings on PASTA kinase function in antibiotic resistance and colonization.
Main Results:
- Enterococci possess a single PASTA kinase, crucial for antibiotic resistance and cell wall stress response.
- PASTA kinase signaling is implicated in enterococcal gut colonization.
- Evidence suggests integration of PASTA kinase with other enterococcal signal transduction pathways.
Conclusions:
- PASTA kinase signaling is vital for enterococcal adaptation and virulence.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanism and therapeutic potential of enterococcal PASTA kinases.
- Targeting PASTA kinase may offer a novel strategy to combat difficult-to-treat enterococcal infections.
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