Genetic Bases and Medical Relevance of Capsular Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in Pathogenic Streptococci

Authors: Llull D.; Lopez R.; Garcia E.

Source: Current Molecular Medicine, Volume 1, Number 4, September 2001 , pp. 475-491(17)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Many streptococci are human and / or animal pathogens and the frequent cause of life-threatening diseases. Among various streptococcal virulence factors, capsular polysaccharides (CPs) are recognized as essential to prevent phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils. In the last decade, an impressive advance on the knowledge of the genetic bases underlying capsule formation has been achieved. The capsular gene cluster driving the formation of the CP of Streptococcus pyogenes and other hyaluronate-producing streptococci, represents one of the simplest cases of gene organization to synthesize a capsule. A more complex situation has been found in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus suis, and other streptococci. On the whole, there exists a direct relationship between the structural and chemical complexity of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide and the number of genes found in the corresponding capsular locus. Streptococcal vaccines, either polysaccharide or conjugate, are currently being tested in clinical trials to overcome the rise of worldwide antibiotic resistance, although, for different reasons, none of these vaccines are expected to provide the required full coverage in a near future. This concern has prompted to explore alternative possibilities with an improved therapeutic potential against streptococcal diseases.

Keywords: Capsular Polysaccharide; Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae; Haemophilus influenzae; hyaluronate-associated protein (HAP); Streptococcus uberis; Signature-tagged mutagenesis

Language: English

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524013363618

Publication date: 2001-09-01

• Current Molecular Medicine is an interdisciplinary journal focused on providing the readership with current and comprehensive reviews on fundamental molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, the development of molecular-diagnosis and/or novel approaches to rational treatment. The reviews should be of significant interest to basic researchers and clinical investigators in molecular medicine. Periodically the journal will invite guest editors to devote an issue on a basic research area that shows promise to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) of a disease or has potential for clinical applications.

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Pathology
• By this author: Llull D. ;  Lopez R. ;  Garcia E.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers