Toxin–Antitoxin Systems in Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Bacteria

Dear Colleagues,

Toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems,  widely distributed in bacterial plasmids and chromosomes, represent versatile stress-response mechanisms able to regulate cell growth and death. TA systems are composed of a stable toxin, a peptide or a protein with the capacity to induce cell death or dormancy, and an antitoxin, a protein or a non-coding RNA, which neutralizes the toxin and is liable to degrade under specific conditions. To date, TA systems are grouped in different types, based on the molecular nature and the mechanism of action of the antitoxin molecule.

TA systems are widespread in pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms, suggesting their relevance in different ecosystems. In pathogenic bacteria, these systems are thought to play a role in bacterial virulence, persistence and biofilm formation. In addition, TA systems can represent alternative targets for antimicrobial drugs.

Recently, various TA systems have been identified and characterized in non-pathogenic bacteria, such as lactic acid bacteria. This group of microorganisms plays important roles in different habitats (food, feed, plant, and human cavities) and are extensively exploited in biotechnological processes and industrial applications. The high abundance of TA systems in the genomes of non-pathogenic bacteria raises the question of their role in regulating the activity of these bacteria of great interest for human health and industrial productions.

In this Special Issue, we invite contributions concerning new aspects related to all types of TA systems identified in pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria.

Prof. Camilla Lazzi
Dr. Claudia Folli
Guest Editors

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