Folch, Benjamin; Déziel, Éric 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4609-0115 et Doucet, Nicolas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1952-9380
(2012).
New insights into the molecular function of PqsE: providing tools to inhibit the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
In: 26th Annual Symposium of the Protein-Society, August 05-08, 2012, San Diego, CA.
Résumé
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a prevalent
opportunistic human pathogen. Individuals who are
immunocompromised are especially susceptible to
infections by this bacterium, such as cancer and AIDS
patients. Additionally, P. aeruginosa is the principal
bacterial agent responsible for persistent drug refractile
lung infections, sepsis in burn patients, and morbidity
and mortality among individuals suffering from
cystic fibrosis. It is also a major nosocomial pathogen
responsible for many hospital outbreaks and is notorious
for its high resistance to antibiotic treatments. P.
aeruginosa is known to establish a bacterial cell-to-cell
communication named quorum sensing to resist host
immune system, leading to full-fledged virulence. The
enzyme PqsE is essential for the regulation of quorum
sensing and the full virulence of this bacterial species.
The enzyme regulates the synthesis of pyocyanin, a
toxic compound only produced by P. aeruginosa. As a
result, this enzyme is an important drug target showing
considerable promise for the design of new inhibitors
directed against this opportunistic human pathogen.
Based on its structural investigation, we present
preliminary enzyme characterization and mutagenesis
experiments aimed at altering the biological function
of PqsE, allowing the characterization of key amino
acid positions involved in the molecular function of the
enzyme. This functional mapping will be exploited for
designing potential inhibitors through a computational
method using a large set of small pharmaceutical
compounds. The positive hits will be tested on the
purified enzyme to evaluate their potency and to better characterize the role and molecular function played by
PqsE in P. aeruginosa. This research should provide
new insights and means to counter bacterial infections.
| Type de document: | Document issu d'une conférence ou d'un atelier |
|---|---|
| Informations complémentaires: | Affiche scientifique 250 Protein Science 21(suppl.1):152-153 |
| Mots-clés libres: | - |
| Centre: | Centre INRS-Institut Armand Frappier |
| Date de dépôt: | 28 janv. 2024 14:59 |
| Dernière modification: | 28 janv. 2024 14:59 |
| URI: | https://espace.inrs.ca/id/eprint/14122 |
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