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Intracellular escape strategies of Staphylococcus aureus in persistent cutaneous infections
Author(s) -
Huitema Leonie,
Phillips Taylor,
Alexeev Vitali,
TomicCanic Marjana,
Pastar Irena,
Igoucheva Olga
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.14235
Subject(s) - staphylococcus aureus , intracellular , intracellular parasite , immune system , immunology , medicine , skin infection , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , genetics
Pathogenic invasion of Staphylococcus aureus is a major concern in patients with chronic skin diseases like atopic dermatitis (AD), epidermolysis bullosa (EB), or chronic diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers, and can result in persistent and life‐threatening chronic non‐healing wounds. Staphylococcus aureu s is generally recognized as extracellular pathogens. However, S. aureus can also invade, hide and persist in skin cells to contribute to wound chronicity. The intracellular life cycle of S. aureus is currently incompletely understood, although published studies indicate that its intracellular escape strategies play an important role in persistent cutaneous infections. This review provides current scientific knowledge about the intracellular life cycle of S. aureus in skin cells, which can be classified into professional and non‐professional antigen‐presenting cells, and its strategies to escape adaptive defense mechanisms. First, we discuss phenotypic switch of S. aureus , which affects intracellular routing and degradation. This review also evaluates potential intracellular escape mechanism of S. aureus to avoid intracellular degradation and antigen presentation, preventing an immune response. Furthermore, we discuss potential drug targets that can interfere with the intracellular life cycle of S. aureus . Taken together, this review aimed to increase scientific understanding about the intracellular life cycle of S. aureus into skin cells and its strategies to evade the host immune response, information that is crucial to reduce pathogenic invasion and life‐threatening persistence of S. aureus in chronic cutaneous infections.