Pathogenesis and immunity in enterococcal infections

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2010 Jun;16(6):533-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03213.x.

Abstract

Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium have emerged as multi-resistant nosocomial pathogens in immunocompromised and critically ill patients. Multi-resistant strains have acquired virulence genes resulting in hospital-adapted clones. The following review summarizes several proteins and carbohydrate- or glycoconjugates that have been identified as putative virulence factors involved in the pathogenesis of enterococcal infections and may be used as targets for alternative therapies. Several studies describing the host immune response against enterococci are also summarized.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Critical Illness
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / immunology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Enterococcus faecalis / drug effects
  • Enterococcus faecalis / immunology*
  • Enterococcus faecalis / pathogenicity*
  • Enterococcus faecium / drug effects
  • Enterococcus faecium / immunology*
  • Enterococcus faecium / pathogenicity*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / immunology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / pathology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / genetics
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Virulence Factors