Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41108437›Full record

ReviewEuropean journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology2026

Structural and functional insights into Pseudomonas aeruginosa's secretion systems 1-6: regulation, role in microbial keratitis and drug targets.

Tanzina Akter, Paula-Maree Challita, Abrar Maswood Haider, Shiful Islam, Kaniz Fatema, Fiona Stapleton, Mark Willcox

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Role of cell-associated and secretion-independent virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in microbial keratitis and anti-virulence therapeutic strategies.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Tanzina AkterSchool of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. t.akter@unsw.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2971-9364
Paula-Maree ChallitaSchool of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
Abrar Maswood HaiderDepartment of Microbiology, Primeasia University, Banani, Dhaka, 1213, Bangladesh.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-8067-0851
Shiful IslamDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, 7034, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-7858-6044
Kaniz FatemaDepartment of Microbiology, Primeasia University, Banani, Dhaka, 1213, Bangladesh.
Fiona StapletonSchool of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7203-5443
Mark WillcoxSchool of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3842-7563

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPseudomonas aeruginosa is a versatile Gram-negative pathogen that thrives in diverse environments. This pathogen causes a range of infections, including microbial keratitis (MK), a sight-threatening corneal infection. Central to its virulence are six specialized protein secretion systems (Types 1-6) that span the complex cell envelope. One-step systems (Types 1, 3, 4, 6) directly translocate effectors across both of its cell membranes, while two-step systems (Types 2, 5) first export substrates into the periplasm via the Sec or Tat pathways before outer-membrane release. These molecular machines deliver toxins, enzymes and competitive effectors that facilitate tissue damage, immune evasion, nutrient acquisition, biofilm formation and interbacterial killing. Their expression and activity are often coordinated by quorum-sensing networks (Las, Rhl, Pqs, Iqs). Although various secretion systems and their effectors have been characterized, the specific contributions of each system to corneal infection have yet to be comprehensively reviewed. PURPOSES AND

methodsPubMed and Google Scholar were searched to synthesize current knowledge of the structure, regulation, and substrates of these secretion systems, to highlight their contributions to keratitis pathogenesis, and to evaluate emerging anti-virulence strategies targeting these pathways as novel therapeutics.

resultsThe T3SS system and its effectors ExoU and ExoS play dominant roles in keratitis severity while other secretion systems further enhance virulence by facilitating toxin release, biofilm development, and interbacterial competition. Regulatory interactions with quorum-sensing pathways amplify their impact during infection.

conclusionUnderstanding the functional roles of all six secretion pathways and their regulatory mechanisms will be critical for identifying and developing novel anti-virulence therapeutics for MK.

Indexed as

Bacterial Secretion SystemsKeratitisPseudomonas aeruginosaPseudomonas InfectionsAnti-Bacterial AgentsBacterial ProteinsGene Expression Regulation, BacterialHumansQuorum SensingVirulenceVirulence FactorsAnti-Bacterial AgentsBacterial ProteinsBacterial Secretion SystemsVirulence FactorsAnti-virulence strategiesMicrobial keratitisPseudomonas aeruginosaSecretions systemsVirulence factors

Identifiers

PMID41108437
PMCPMC12872787

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.