Cover Image

Human Defensins: A Novel Approach in the Fight against Skin Colonizing <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a microorganism capable of causing numerous diseases of the human skin. The incidence of <i>S. aureus</i> skin infections reflects the conflict between the host skin's immune defenses and the <i>S. aureus'</i> virulence el...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors:	Olga Scudiero (Author), Mariarita Brancaccio (Author), Cristina Mennitti (Author), Sonia Laneri (Author), Barbara Lombardo (Author), Margherita G. De Biasi (Author), Eliana De Gregorio (Author), Chiara Pagliuca (Author), Roberta Colicchio (Author), Paola Salvatore (Author), Raffaela Pero (Author)
Format:	Book
Published:	MDPI AG, 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z.
Subjects:	article
Online Access:	Connect to this object online.
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a microorganism capable of causing numerous diseases of the human skin. The incidence of <i>S. aureus</i> skin infections reflects the conflict between the host skin's immune defenses and the <i>S. aureus'</i> virulence elements. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small protein molecules involved in numerous biological activities, playing a very important role in the innate immunity. They constitute the defense of the host's skin, which prevents harmful microorganisms from entering the epithelial barrier, including <i>S. aureus.</i> However, <i>S. aureus</i> uses ambiguous mechanisms against host defenses by promoting colonization and skin infections. Our review aims to provide a reference collection on host-pathogen interactions in skin disorders, including <i>S. aureus</i> infections and its resistance to methicillin (MRSA). In addition to these, we discuss the involvement of defensins and other innate immunity mediators (i.e., toll receptors, interleukin-1, and interleukin-17), involved in the defense of the host against the skin disorders caused by <i>S. aureus</i>, and then focus on the evasion mechanisms developed by the pathogenic microorganism under analysis. This review provides the "state of the art" on molecular mechanisms underlying <i>S. aureus</i> skin infection and the pharmacological potential of AMPs as a new therapeutic strategy, in order to define alternative directions in the fight against cutaneous disease.
Item Description:	10.3390/antibiotics9040198 2079-6382