An Introduction to Bacterial Biofilms and Their Proteases, and Their Roles in Host Infection and Immune Evasion.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial biofilms represent multicellular communities embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances, conveying increased resistance against environmental stress factors but also antibiotics. They are shaped by secreted enzymes such as proteases, which can aid pathogenicity by degrading host proteins of the connective tissue or the immune system. Importantly, both secreted proteases and the capability of biofilm formation are considered key virulence factors. In this review, we focus on the basic aspects of proteolysis and protein secretion, and highlight various secreted bacterial proteases involved in biofilm establishment and dispersal, and how they aid bacteria in immune evasion by degrading immunoglobulins and components of the complement system. Thus, secreted proteases

SUBMITTER: Ramirez-Larrota JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8869686 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature