Copper Handling in the Salmonella Cell Envelope and Its Impact on Virulence

Trends Microbiol. 2021 May;29(5):384-387. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.01.004. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

Abstract

Copper (Cu) plays a key role at the host-pathogen interface as both an essential element and a toxic element. Intracellular strains of pathogenic Salmonella have acquired the periplasmic Cu chaperone, CueP, and the thiol oxidoreductases complex Scs, while losing the ancestral Cu-detoxification Cus system. Coregulation of these species-specific factors link Cu with redox stress and allows Salmonella to counteract Cu toxicity during infection.

Keywords: CueP and Cus; bacterial envelope; copper; enteropathogens; host–pathogen interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Copper / metabolism*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Humans
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Periplasm / metabolism
  • Salmonella typhimurium / metabolism*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / pathogenicity*
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Copper