Title:Rationale and Prospects of Targeting Bacterial Two-component Systems for Antibacterial Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Volume: 18
Issue: 6
Author(s): Nadya Velikova*Jerry M. Wells
Affiliation:
- Host-microbe Interactomics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen,Netherlands
Keywords:
Bacterial infections, cystic fibrosis, two-component systems, antibacterial treatment, respiratory infection, pathogen.
Abstract: Bacterial respiratory infections are the main reason of morbidity and mortality among cystic
fibrosis (CF) patients. In early childhood, the respiratory infections are due to Staphylococcus aureus
and Haemophilus influenzae. In older CF patients, pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria like Achromobacter
xylosoxidans, Burkholderia cepacia complex and especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa are
more frequently seen. P. aeruginosa is a turning point in the respiratory disease in CF and its predominance
increases with age. Bacteria use a variety of two-component systems (TCS) to differentially express
virulence factors involved in both acute and chronic infections. Here, we review bacterial TCS as
targets for antibacterial treatment for CF patients.
