Secreted bacterial phospholipase A2 enzymes: better living through phospholipolysis.
Phospholipases are ubiquitous and diverse enzymes that induce changes in membrane composition, activate the inflammatory cascade and alter cell signaling pathways. Recent evidence suggests that certain bacterial pathogens have acquired genes encoding secreted phospholipase A2 enzymes through lateral gene transfer events. The two best-studied members of this class of enzyme are ExoU and SlaA, which are produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and group A Streptococcus, respectively. These enzymes modulate the host inflammatory response, increase the severity of disease and otherwise alter host-pathogen interactions. We propose that a key function of ExoU and SlaA is to increase the fitness of the subclones expressing these enzymes, thereby increasing the population size of the PLA2-positive strains and enhancing the likelihood of encountering an at-risk host.
Sitkiewicz
Izabela
I
Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Stockbauer
Kathryn E
KE
Musser
James M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; C111749:pseudomonas exoprotein A protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2