Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen possessing an arsenal of virulence factors directed against host cells. These virulence factors include secretion machineries delivering toxic effectors in the extracellular milieu or in the cytoplasm of target cells. Our understanding of the action mode of these toxic proteins significantly increased in recent years, and new virulence factors have been discovered.
The contribution of motility appendages, adhesive proteins and biofilm production in colonization and infectious processes has been deeply investigated. Moreover, the concerted action of these factors, originally studied individually, was better established in recent reports. The regulation of these factors by various micro-environmental cues, and the existence of cheaters taking advantage of the toxicity of other bacteria, have been better recognized. Several of these new findings were uncovered through the expansion of “seq” techniques, or through the emerging field of high-resolution microscopy dedicated to bacteria. Finally, research on antivirulent strategies, considered as potential adjunctive therapies, is very active and constitutes a promise to combat antibioresistant clinical strains.
This Research Topic welcomes original research and reviews recapitulating recent advances and within the scope of P. aeruginosa virulence, as described above. Submissions related to antibiotic resistance or genomics will not be considered unless they have a direct implication to P. aeruginosa virulence.
Disclosure: Topic Editor Wendy Picking is the owner of start-up, Hafion. Inc that will be developing the vaccines discovered in the Picking labs. The rest of the Topic Editors have no other conflicts of interest to declare.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen possessing an arsenal of virulence factors directed against host cells. These virulence factors include secretion machineries delivering toxic effectors in the extracellular milieu or in the cytoplasm of target cells. Our understanding of the action mode of these toxic proteins significantly increased in recent years, and new virulence factors have been discovered.
The contribution of motility appendages, adhesive proteins and biofilm production in colonization and infectious processes has been deeply investigated. Moreover, the concerted action of these factors, originally studied individually, was better established in recent reports. The regulation of these factors by various micro-environmental cues, and the existence of cheaters taking advantage of the toxicity of other bacteria, have been better recognized. Several of these new findings were uncovered through the expansion of “seq” techniques, or through the emerging field of high-resolution microscopy dedicated to bacteria. Finally, research on antivirulent strategies, considered as potential adjunctive therapies, is very active and constitutes a promise to combat antibioresistant clinical strains.
This Research Topic welcomes original research and reviews recapitulating recent advances and within the scope of P. aeruginosa virulence, as described above. Submissions related to antibiotic resistance or genomics will not be considered unless they have a direct implication to P. aeruginosa virulence.
Disclosure: Topic Editor Wendy Picking is the owner of start-up, Hafion. Inc that will be developing the vaccines discovered in the Picking labs. The rest of the Topic Editors have no other conflicts of interest to declare.