Parasite survival and disease persistence in cystic fibrosis, schistosomiasis and pathogenic bacterial diseases: A role for universal stress proteins?

Priscilla Masamba, Abidemi Paul Kappo

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Universal stress proteins (USPs) were originally discovered in Escherichia coli over two decades ago and since then their presence has been detected in various organisms that include plants, archaea, metazoans, and bacteria. As their name suggests, they function in a series of various cellular responses in both abiotic and biotic stressful conditions such as oxidative stress, exposure to DNA damaging agents, nutrient starvation, high temperature and acidic stress, among others. Although a highly conserved group of proteins, the molecular and biochemical aspects of their functions are largely evasive. This is concerning, as it was observed that USPs act as essential contributors to the survival/persistence of various infectious pathogens. Their ubiquitous nature in various organisms, as well as their augmentation during conditions of stress, is a clear indication of their direct or indirect importance in providing resilience against such conditions. This paper seeks to clarify what has already been reported in the literature on the proposed mechanism of action of USPs in pathogenic organisms.

Original languageEnglish
Article number10878
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume22
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2021

Keywords

  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Escherichia coli
  • Schistosomiasis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Universal stress protein

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Molecular Biology
  • Spectroscopy
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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