Proteomics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the increasing role of post-translational modifications

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen widely involved in human infections. The high occurrence of this bacterial species in the clinical field is due to its high ability to adapt to detrimental environments, in particular its strong inherent antibiotic resistance, its ability to form biofilms and to produce virulence factors. The application of proteomics to clinical microbiology is probably one of the most innovative strategies of the last decades to understand complex microbial systems, by providing individual proteome charts of pathogens.

Areas covered: In the last decade, proteomic advances have allowed in high-throughput the screening of proteins modified by diverse co- and post-translational modifications in P. aeruginosa. This review will present the current state of the art for the characterization of PTMs in P. aeruginosa by proteomics approaches. We will then discuss on the involvement of PTMs in P. aeruginosa physiology.

Expert commentary: Modified proteins and enzymes involved in the addition/removal of modifications will surely constitute targets of interest to develop new therapeutic drugs to fight against P. aeruginosa.

KEYWORDS:

• Post-translational modifications
• proteomics
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Resistance
• Virulence

Acknowledgments

C.G. is a recipient of doctoral fellowship from the SeSa research networks of the Region Haute Normandie (France). Work co-supported by European Union and RégionNormandie. Europe gets involved in Normandie with European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). We thank Marion Nicol for her help to create Figure 3.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.