1. Ribosome Protection Proteins-"New" Players in the Global Arms Race with Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens.
- Author
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Ero R, Yan XF, and Gao YG
- Subjects
- ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters metabolism, Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, Bacteria drug effects, Bacterial Infections drug therapy, Bacterial Proteins metabolism, Drug Resistance, Bacterial drug effects, Drug Resistance, Multiple drug effects, Models, Molecular, Protein Biosynthesis drug effects, Ribosomal Proteins drug effects, Ribosomes drug effects, Drug Resistance, Microbial physiology, Ribosomal Proteins metabolism, Ribosomes metabolism
- Abstract
Bacteria have evolved an array of mechanisms enabling them to resist the inhibitory effect of antibiotics, a significant proportion of which target the ribosome. Indeed, resistance mechanisms have been identified for nearly every antibiotic that is currently used in clinical practice. With the ever-increasing list of multi-drug-resistant pathogens and very few novel antibiotics in the pharmaceutical pipeline, treatable infections are likely to become life-threatening once again. Most of the prevalent resistance mechanisms are well understood and their clinical significance is recognized. In contrast, ribosome protection protein-mediated resistance has flown under the radar for a long time and has been considered a minor factor in the clinical setting. Not until the recent discovery of the ATP-binding cassette family F protein-mediated resistance in an extensive list of human pathogens has the significance of ribosome protection proteins been truly appreciated. Understanding the underlying resistance mechanism has the potential to guide the development of novel therapeutic approaches to evade or overcome the resistance. In this review, we discuss the latest developments regarding ribosome protection proteins focusing on the current antimicrobial arsenal and pharmaceutical pipeline as well as potential implications for the future of fighting bacterial infections in the time of "superbugs."
- Published
- 2021
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