Diversity in genetic regulation of bacterial fimbriae assembled by the Chaperone Usher pathway

Gahlot, D. K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6963-0009, Taheri, N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9139-8744 and MacIntyre, S. (2023) Diversity in genetic regulation of bacterial fimbriae assembled by the Chaperone Usher pathway. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (1). 161. ISSN 1422-0067 doi: 10.3390/ijms24010161

Abstract/Summary

Bacteria express different types of hair-like proteinaceous appendages on their cell surface known as pili or fimbriae. These filamentous structures are primarily involved in the adherence of bacteria to both abiotic and biotic surfaces for biofilm formation and/or virulence of non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria. In pathogenic bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria, fimbriae play a key role in bacteria–host interactions which are critical for bacterial invasion and infection. Fimbriae assembled by the Chaperone Usher pathway (CUP) are widespread within the Enterobacteriaceae, and their expression is tightly regulated by specific environmental stimuli. Genes essential for expression of CUP fimbriae are organised in small blocks/clusters, which are often located in proximity to other virulence genes on a pathogenicity island. Since these surface appendages play a crucial role in bacterial virulence, they have potential to be harnessed in vaccine development. This review covers the regulation of expression of CUP-assembled fimbriae in Gram-negative bacteria and uses selected examples to demonstrate both dedicated and global regulatory mechanisms.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/109601
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Biomedical Sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords	Review, Gram-negative bacteria, Chaperone Usher Pathway (CUP) fimbriae, FGL & FGS class, expression regulation mechanisms, lifestyle & pathogenesis, vaccine development
Publisher	MDPI
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