The myriad roles of cyclic AMP in microbial pathogens: from signal to sword

• Published in: Nature reviews. Microbiology Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 27 - 38
• Main Authors: McDonough, Kathleen A, Rodriguez, Ana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Alveolata - genetics; Alveolata - metabolism; Bacteria; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; Cyclic adenylic acid; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; Fungi - genetics; Fungi - metabolism; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Kinases; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Models, Biological; Nucleotides; Pathogenic microorganisms; Pathogens; Phosphorylation; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Roles; Signal Transduction; Transcription factors; Virulence; Virulence Factors - biosynthesis; United States; New York; United States > US
• ISSN: 1740-1526; 1740-1534
• DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro2688

All organisms must sense and respond to their external environments, and this signal transduction often involves second messengers such as cyclic nucleotides. One such nucleotide is cyclic AMP, a universal second messenger that is used by diverse forms of life, including mammals, fungi, protozoa and bacteria. In this review, we discuss the many roles of cAMP in bacterial, fungal and protozoan pathogens and its contributions to microbial pathogenesis. These roles include the coordination of intracellular processes, such as virulence gene expression, with extracellular signals from the environment, and the manipulation of host immunity by increasing cAMP levels in host cells during infection.