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Pseudolysin (elastase B): a protagonist in the pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenesis.

Andre L S Santos, Anna Clara M Galdino, Marta H Branquinha

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen with huge medical relevance worldwide, since it is associated to both acute and chronic infections with impressive morbidity and mortality rates [1]. This Gram negative bacterium has ubiquitous distribution, being able to colonize a vast diversity of habitats with distinct physicochemical characteristics, such as soil, water, plants, animals and humans [1]. This versatility can be assigned, at least in part, to P. aeruginosa genome plasticity, which reflects in its ability to quickly modulate the metabolic repertoire in order to adapt to the changes in environmental conditions [2]. For all these reasons, P. aeruginosa might cause a wide variety of human infections, with special clinic emphasis in immunocompromised patients.