RESUMO
Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) are a novel family of small amphipathic, alpha-heli-cal peptides with strong surfactant-like properties. PSMs have multiple roles in staphylococcal pathogenesis and are considered as important virulence-associated factors. They may cause lysis of many eukaryotic cells, such as human neutrophils,erythrocytes and dendritic cells;induce the expression of pro-inflammatory cyto-kines;facilitate the structuring and detachment of biofilms;influence the expression of other genes. This re-view summarizes the classification,structure,regulatory effect on gene expression and biological function of PSMs. The potential avenues to target PSMs for drug development against staphylococcal infections are also evaluated in this paper.
RESUMO
Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most important member of the coagulase-negative staphylococci and one of the most abundant colonizers of human skin.S.epidermidis is a bacterial species that is commonly described as relatively innoc-uous,which is in part due to the notion that it lacks secreted toxins with limited capability of infection.S.epidermidis pro-duces a series of molecules that provide protection from host defenses,including many proteins and exopolymers.Further-more,recent research has identified a family of cytolytic peptidesin S.epidermidis,the phenolsoluble modulins (PSMs),and the notion that S.epidermidis is virtually toxin-free had to be somewhat revised.