Bacterial Lipoproteins Diverse Role in Host-Pathogen Interactions

Introduction In the recent years, primarily due to the advances in genome sequencing of bacteria, an increased number of lipoproteins have been predicted in the various strains of bacteria. Bacterial lipoproteins are critical for the survival of both the Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteria are found on the surface of host or within the body as commensals or as pathogenic organisms. Survival of bacteria on or within the host is faced with challenges due to the host’s defence mechanisms. Bacteria have evolved simple to complex mechanisms for their survival on or within the host. The mechanisms become even more complex when bacteria internalize within the host’s cells during pathogenesis. The complex set of challenges at the levels of bacteria and the host are manifested in the form of molecular level interactions for an eventual fight for survival. Consequently, bacteria have evolved an armamentarium of molecules and mechanisms of which lipoproteins are an important constituent.