Las proteasas de serina bacterianas y su implicación en la fisiopatología de la infección

Serine proteases are enzymes widely distributed in nature, and are responsible for multiple and important biological processes. During bacterial infection, pathogens secrete and use their serine proteases as virulent factors to combat against the host, through diverse mechanisms, such as tissue disruption, proteolysis of immunological effectors or inactivation of relevant components for the host physiology. However, some years ago it was observed that serine proteases could modulate physiological processes by a highly specific mechanism, through the activation of protease activated receptors (PARs). In this paper, we review recent knowledge about bacterial serine proteases and their relevance in the pathophysiology of infection. The opportunity for new antimicrobial interventions based on the inhibition of PAR-protease interaction, is also highlighted.