Bioremediation, microbial pathogenicity and regulation of mammalian cell growth and death

摘要

Microorganisms of the genus Pseudomonas and Burkholderia are efficient in degrading various toxic chemicals and are potential candidates for bioremediation of toxic chemical dump sites. Both are, however, opportunistic pathogens and their pathogenic potentials must be fully evaluated before they can be released in an open environment. The secretion of a redox protein azurin as a potential virulence factor by members of Pseudomonas and Burkholderia species and how azurin modulates target mammalian host cells through interaction with the tumor suppressor protein p53 is described here as an example of complex nature of virulence factors.