Lipases as Pathogenicity Factors of Bacterial Pathogens of Humans Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology

Phospholipases are a diverse group of lipolytic enzymes utilized by a variety of bacterial pathogens to support the establishment of a replicative niche during the infection process. It has been shown that hydrolysis of host membranes through the action of bacterial phospholipases is correlated with extensive host cell destruction. However, recent findings have provided new insights in characterizing the ways in which bacterial phospholipases manipulate host cell signal transduction pathways. Thus, lipolysis is used by the bacteria in an appropriate manner to fit the particular needs throughout invasion of the host cell targets. Within the manuscript we provide a summary on the current knowledge of bacterial lipases, their classification and general virulence properties. Furthermore, we give examples for intracellular and extracellular pathogenic bacteria and their lipase virulence tools.