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7.4
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Journals
Microorganisms
Special Issues
Pathogenic Mechanisms of Bacterial Infections
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Pathogenic Mechanisms of Bacterial Infections

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology and Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 1759

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Narayanan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
Interests: microbiology
Dr. Ahmed Hassan AbdelKhalek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Interests: interest: antibacterial; Clostridioides difficile; bacterial
Dr. Deepti Pillai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Interests: interest: antibacterial; Clostridioides difficile; bacterial

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bacterial infection is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Millions of patients lose their lives every year because of bacterial infections, especially with antimicrobial resistant pathogens. There is an urgent need for improved mitigation strategies to alleviate the suffering and prevent mortality of such infections. Understanding the mechanisms by which bacteria induce disease conditions is imperative in the fight against bacteria. This understanding is pivotal in developing antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostic tools and devising preparedness plans for potential outbreaks and transmission control. The more we learn about the interaction between bacteria and host, the more avenues we have for innovative preventative and therapeutic approaches.

We propose the special issue of Microorganisms to explore the recent advances and discoveries in the concentrated field of bacterial pathogenesis. We encourage submissions of original research articles and literature reviews in basic and applied research. We intend to offer a resource of a) basic research including bacterial pathogenesis, bacterial endocrinology, host-pathogen interaction, immune reaction studies, and b) applied research in developing vaccines, antibacterial agents, or diagnostic tools utilizing novel targets. Clinical findings and case studies will be also considered for acceptance based on the novelty of the research.

Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Narayanan
Dr. Ahmed Hassan AbdelKhalek
Dr. Deepti Pillai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bacterial pathogenesis
  • host-pathogen interaction
  • novel targets
  • vaccines
  • antibacterial agents
  • diagnostic tools
  • bacterial endocrinology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2611 KiB  
Article
Presence and Role of the Type 3 Fimbria in the Adherence Capacity of Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii
by Valentina Fernández-Yáñez, Valentina Ibaceta, Alexia Torres, Roberto M. Vidal, Isidora Schneider, Valeria Schilling, Cecilia Toro, Carolina Arellano, Paola Scavone, Ignacio Muñoz and Felipe Del Canto
Microorganisms 2024, 12(7), 1441; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071441 - 16 Jul 2024
Viewed by 402
Abstract
Enterobacter hormaechei, one of the species within the Enterobacter cloacae complex, is a relevant agent of healthcare-associated infections. In addition, it has gained relevance because isolates have shown the capacity to resist several antibiotics, particularly carbapenems. However, knowledge regarding colonization and virulence [...] Read more.
Enterobacter hormaechei, one of the species within the Enterobacter cloacae complex, is a relevant agent of healthcare-associated infections. In addition, it has gained relevance because isolates have shown the capacity to resist several antibiotics, particularly carbapenems. However, knowledge regarding colonization and virulence mechanisms of E. hormaechei has not progressed to the same extent as other Enterobacteriaceae species as Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Here, we describe the presence and role of the type 3 fimbria, a chaperone-usher assembled fimbria, which was first described in Klebsiella spp., and which has been detected in other representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Eight Chilean E. cloacae isolates were examined, and among them, four E. hormaechei isolates were found to produce the type 3 fimbria. These isolates were identified as E. hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii, one of the five subspecies known. A mutant E. hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii strain lacking the mrkA gene, encoding the major structural subunit, displayed a significantly reduced adherence capacity to a plastic surface and to Caco-2 cells, compared to the wild-type strain. This phenotype of reduced adherence capacity was not observed in the mutant strains complemented with the mrkA gene under the control of an inducible promoter. Therefore, these data suggest a role of the type 3 fimbria in the adherence capacity of E. hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii. A screening in E. hormaechei genomes contained in the NCBI RefSeq Assembly database indicated that the overall presence of the type 3 fimbria is uncommon (5.94–7.37%), although genes encoding the structure were detected in representatives of the five E. hormaechei subspecies. Exploration of complete genomes indicates that, in most of the cases, the mrkABCDF locus, encoding the type 3 fimbria, is located in plasmids. Furthermore, sequence types currently found in healthcare-associated infections were found to harbor genes encoding the type 3 fimbria, mainly ST145, ST78, ST118, ST168, ST66, ST93, and ST171. Thus, although the type 3 fimbria is not widespread among the species, it might be a determinant of fitness for a subset of E. hormaechei representatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Mechanisms of Bacterial Infections)
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Review

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20 pages, 776 KiB  
Review
Recruitment of Vitronectin by Bacterial Pathogens: A Comprehensive Overview
by Angelica Pellegrini and Giampiero Pietrocola
Microorganisms 2024, 12(7), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071385 - 8 Jul 2024
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Abstract
The key factor that enables pathogenic bacteria to establish successful infections lies largely in their ability to escape the host’s immune response and adhere to host surfaces. Vitronectin (Vn) is a multidomain glycoprotein ubiquitously present in blood and the extracellular matrix of several [...] Read more.
The key factor that enables pathogenic bacteria to establish successful infections lies largely in their ability to escape the host’s immune response and adhere to host surfaces. Vitronectin (Vn) is a multidomain glycoprotein ubiquitously present in blood and the extracellular matrix of several tissues, where it plays important roles as a regulator of membrane attack complex (MAC) formation and as a mediator of cell adhesion. Vn has emerged as an intriguing target for several microorganisms. Vn binding by bacterial receptors confers protection from lysis resulting from MAC deposition. Furthermore, through its Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif, Vn can bind several host cell integrins. Therefore, Vn recruited to the bacterial cell functions as a molecular bridge between bacteria and host surfaces, where it triggers several host signaling events that could promote bacterial internalization. Each bacterium uses different receptors that recognize specific Vn domains. In this review, we update the current knowledge of Vn receptors of major bacterial pathogens, emphasizing the role they may play in the host upon Vn binding. Focusing on the structural properties of bacterial proteins, we provide details on the residues involved in their interaction with Vn. Furthermore, we discuss the possible involvement of Vn adsorption on biomaterials in promoting bacterial adhesion on abiotic surfaces and infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Mechanisms of Bacterial Infections)
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19 pages, 981 KiB  
Review
Contribution of Toxin–Antitoxin Systems to Adherent-Invasive E. coli Pathogenesis
by Paula Bustamante, María Núria Ramos-Corominas and Margarita Martinez-Medina
Microorganisms 2024, 12(6), 1158; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061158 - 6 Jun 2024
Viewed by 704
Abstract
Pathobionts have been implicated in various chronic diseases, including Crohn’s disease (CD), a multifactorial chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation and damage to the digestive system. While the exact cause of CD remains unclear, adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) [...] Read more.
Pathobionts have been implicated in various chronic diseases, including Crohn’s disease (CD), a multifactorial chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation and damage to the digestive system. While the exact cause of CD remains unclear, adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) strains have emerged as key contributors to its pathogenesis. AIEC are characterized by their ability to adhere to and invade intestinal epithelial cells and survive and replicate inside macrophages. However, the mechanisms underlying the virulence and persistence of AIEC within their host remain the subject of intensive research. Toxin–antitoxin systems (TAs) play a potential role in AIEC pathogenesis and may be therapeutic targets. These systems generally consist of two components: a toxin harmful to the cell and an antitoxin that neutralizes the toxin’s effects. They contribute to bacterial survival in adverse conditions and regulate bacterial growth and behavior, affecting various cellular processes in bacterial pathogens. This review focuses on the current information available to determine the roles of TAs in the pathogenicity of AIEC. Their contribution to the AIEC stress response, biofilm formation, phage inhibition, the maintenance of mobile genetic elements, and host lifestyles is discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Mechanisms of Bacterial Infections)
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