title: More Than Just Light: Clinical Relevance of Light Perception in the Nosocomial Pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii and Other Members of the Genus Acinetobacter.
abstract: A summary of the major findings concerning light modulation in Acinetobacter baumannii, which governs aspects related to the success of this microorganism as a nosocomial pathogen, is presented. Particularly, the evidence shows that light modulates the ability of the bacteria to persist in the environment, its virulence against eukaryotic hosts and even susceptibility to certain antibiotics. The light signal is sensed through different mechanisms, in some cases involving specialized photoreceptors of the BLUF-type, whereas in others, directly by a photosensitizer molecule. We also provide new data concerning the genomic context of BLUF-domain containing proteins within the genus Acinetobacter, as well as further insights into the mechanism of light-mediated reduction in susceptibility to antibiotics. The overall information points toward light being a crucial stimulus in the lifestyle of members of the genus Acinetobacter as well as in other clinically relevant species, such as members of the ESKAPE group, playing therefore an important role in the clinical settings.
authors: Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Department of Biological Science, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA.
authors: María Soledad
authors: MS
authors: Ramírez
authors: Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.|Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.
authors: Gabriela Leticia
authors: GL
authors: Müller
authors: Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
authors: Jorgelina Fernanda
authors: JF
authors: Pérez
authors: Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.
authors: Adrián Ezequiel
authors: AE
authors: Golic
authors: Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.|Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI-CONICET), Rosario, Argentina.
authors: María Alejandra
authors: MA
authors: Mussi
mesh_terms: D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light