title: Resistance-Nodulation-Division Multidrug Efflux Pumps in Gram-Negative Bacteria: Role in Virulence.
abstract: Resistance-Nodulation-Division (RND) efflux pumps are one of the most important determinants of multidrug resistance (MDR) in Gram-negative bacteria. With an ever increasing number of Gram-negative clinical isolates exhibiting MDR phenotypes as a result of the activity of RND pumps, it is clear that the design of novel effective clinical strategies against such pathogens must be grounded in a better understanding of these pumps, including their physiological roles. To this end, recent evidence suggests that RND pumps play an important role in the virulence of Gram-negative pathogens. In this review, we discuss the important role RND efflux pumps play in different facets of virulence including colonization, evasion of host defense mechanisms, and biofilm formation. These studies provide key insights that may ultimately be applied towards strategies used in the design of effective therapeutics against MDR Gram negative bacterial pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial Resistance Research Group (ARRG), Applied Bioscience Program, Faculties of Health Sciences and Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street N, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada. dinesh.fernando@uoit.ca.
authors.forename: Dinesh M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.affiliation: Antimicrobial Resistance Research Group (ARRG), Applied Bioscience Program, Faculties of Health Sciences and Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street N, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada. Ayush.Kumar@uoit.ca.
authors.forename: Ayush
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Gram-negative bacteria; biofilm; host-colonization; oxidative stress; ultidrug efflux systems