Two Component Regulatory Systems and Antibiotic Resistance in Gram-Negative Pathogens

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 20; no. 7; p. 1781
• Main Authors: Bhagirath, Anjali Y, Li, Yanqi, Patidar, Rakesh, Yerex, Katherine, Ma, Xiaoxue, Kumar, Ayush, Duan, Kangmin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.04.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; antimicrobial resistance; Bacterial infections; Binding sites; biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Cross Infection - microbiology; Cross Infection - therapy; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - physiology; E coli; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - physiology; Genes; Gram-Negative Bacteria - physiology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - therapy; Health sciences; Humans; Kinases; Mutation; Review; Sensors; Signal transduction; Tuberculosis; two-component regulatory proteins; Virulence; two-component regulatory proteins; antimicrobial resistance; biofilms
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071781

Gram-negative pathogens such as , , and are the leading cause of nosocomial infections throughout the world. One commonality shared among these pathogens is their ubiquitous presence, robust host-colonization and most importantly, resistance to antibiotics. A significant number of two-component systems (TCSs) exist in these pathogens, which are involved in regulation of gene expression in response to environmental signals such as antibiotic exposure. While the development of antimicrobial resistance is a complex phenomenon, it has been shown that TCSs are involved in sensing antibiotics and regulating genes associated with antibiotic resistance. In this review, we aim to interpret current knowledge about the signaling mechanisms of TCSs in these three pathogenic bacteria. We further attempt to answer questions about the role of TCSs in antimicrobial resistance. We will also briefly discuss how specific two-component systems present in , , and may serve as potential therapeutic targets.