The contribution of melanin to microbial pathogenesis
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Abstract
Melanins are enigmatic pigments that are produced by a wide variety of microorganisms including several species of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and helminths. The study of melanin is difficult because these pigments defy complete biochemical and structural analysis. Nevertheless, the availability of new reagents in the form of monoclonal antibodies and melanin-binding peptides, combined with the application of various physical techniques, has provided insights into the process of melanization. Melanization is important in microbial pathogenesis because it has been associated with virulence in many microorganisms. Melanin appears to contribute to virulence by reducing the susceptibility of melanized microbes to…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 5.66
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 302
Authors
2Topics & keywords
- Melanin
- Biology
- Virulence
- Microbiology
- Immune system
- Microorganism
- Monoclonal antibody
- Bacteria