Proteolytic enzymes are found in all life forms, where they catalyze peptide bond hydrolysis during essential biological processes. Proteases of various pathogens have also been shown to use endogenous protease inhibitors to regulate the activity of host proteolytic enzymes encountered during infection.
Proteolytic Enzymes and their Inhibitors in Infectious Pathogens brings together key experts to provide a thorough discussion of proteolytic enzymes and their endogenous inhibitors found in parasites, bacteria, and viruses. The book focuses on the respective roles of the different catalytic classes of proteolytic enzymes and their protein-protease inhibitors at the host-infectious organism interface, and how this knowledge may inform drug and vaccine design. Following a foundational overview of proteases and macromolecular inhibitors of pathogenic organisms, authors discuss recent research on distinct classes of proteolytic enzymes in pathogens. Classes include aspartic proteases, cysteine proteases, metalloproteases, serine proteases, and threonine proteases with experts contributing chapters on distinct enzymes and inhibitors. New methods to identify protease substrates and inhibitors are also provided, with step-by-step protocols to advance new research and drive drug discovery.
Proteolytic Enzymes and their Inhibitors in Infectious Pathogens brings together key experts to provide a thorough discussion of proteolytic enzymes and their endogenous inhibitors found in parasites, bacteria, and viruses. The book focuses on the respective roles of the different catalytic classes of proteolytic enzymes and their protein-protease inhibitors at the host-infectious organism interface, and how this knowledge may inform drug and vaccine design. Following a foundational overview of proteases and macromolecular inhibitors of pathogenic organisms, authors discuss recent research on distinct classes of proteolytic enzymes in pathogens. Classes include aspartic proteases, cysteine proteases, metalloproteases, serine proteases, and threonine proteases with experts contributing chapters on distinct enzymes and inhibitors. New methods to identify protease substrates and inhibitors are also provided, with step-by-step protocols to advance new research and drive drug discovery.
Table of Contents
1. Overview of pathogen proteases and their endogenous macromolecular inhibitors2. DNA-linked inhibitor antibody assay (DIANA) to capture proteases in complex mixtures and identify novel small-molecule inhibitors
3. Recent Advances in Applications of Proteomic Approaches and Chemical Tools for Pathogen Profiling
4. Aspartic proteases and their inhibitors in Trypanosomatids
5. Subtype-specific HIV-1 protease and the role of hinge and flap dynamics in drug resistance: a subtype C narrative
6. Gingipains of Porphyromonas gingivalis deactivators of innate immune and inflammatory defense mechanisms
7. Cathepsin-like proteases of protozoa
8. Metallo-aminopeptidases in parasites and bacteria
9. Bacterial signal peptidases
10. Ecotins of bacteria and protozoa
11. Oligopeptidase B popping up in many pathogens as a virulence factor
12. Bacterial/Mycobacterial proteasome
Authors
Theresa Coetzer Professor, (SARChI) Chair, Biochemistry Department, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.Professor Theresa Coetzer's research focusses on proteolytic enzymes as diagnostic and drug targets in African parasitic diseases: mainly animal and human trypanosomiasis (nagana and sleeping sickness) and also trichinellosis and theileriosis. She also has expertise in producing antibodies in chickens against the whole proteases and against peptides corresponding to epitopes identified in silico. Dr. Coetzer holds a DST-NRF South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI), as Chair in Proteolysis in Haemostasis, Health and Disease.
