Abstract

Bacterial infections constitute a major global health problem, acutely accentuated by the rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. The widespread need for bacteria to attach - adhere - to target cells before they can initiate an infection may be used to advantage by targeting the bacterial adhesion tools such as pili and fimbriae for development of novel anti-bacterial vaccines and drugs. Type 1 fimbriae are widely expressed by Escherichia coli and are used by uropathogenic strains to mediate attachment to specific niches in the urinary tract. These fimbriae belong to a class of fibrillar adhesion organelles assembled through the chaperone/usher pathway, one of the terminal branches of the general secretion pathway in Gram-negative bacteria. Our understanding of the assembly, structure and function of these structures has evolved significantly over the last decade. Here, we summarize current understanding of the function and biogenesis of fibrillar adhesion organelles, and provide some examples of recent progress towards interfering with bacterial adhesion as a means to prevent infection.

Keywords

Assembly; Bacterial adhesion; Chaperone/Usher pathway; Fimbriae/Pili; Lectin

Published in

Topics in Current Chemistry
2009, Volume: 288, pages: 67-107
ISBN: 978-3-642-01304-1
Publisher: SPRINGER-VERLAG NEW YORK, MS INGRID CUNNINGHAM, 175 FIFTH AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10010 USA

SLU Authors

• Knight, Stefan David

  • Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages


UKÄ Subject classification

Other Chemistry Topics


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/128_2008_13

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/48804