[SCAN] RNase R and the Control of Virulence Processes in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Title: RNase R and the Control of Virulence Processes in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Speaker: Susana Domingues

Abstract: 
The importance of RNA has been widely recognized, but the pandemic caused by an RNA virus has brought RNA to the highlights of the media. We now know that it is crucial to understand the RNA metabolism and the enzymes that process and degrade the RNA molecule. These enzymes are ribonucleases (RNases) and they are also emerging as key effectors in bacterial virulence and survival. This talk focuses on RNase R, an exoribonuclease with important effects on Streptococcus pneumoniae
infections. S. pneumoniae is the leader cause of bacterial pneumonia, an important global health concern, which has become even more relevant in the current pandemic, where it presents an important secondary infection risk. Despite the availability of vaccines and antibiotics, pneumococcal infections have increasingly high mortality rates, especially in risk groups. World Health Organization (WHO) has included S. pneumonia in the list of the priority pathogens for which new antibacterials are urgently required. RNases are key post-transcriptional regulators with main roles in resistance to stress. Since infection and interaction with the host exposes pathogens to several stress situations, we are interested in studying the involvement of ribonucleases in these processes. Understanding these processes is essential to find new targets for drug design. We have recently demonstrated that pneumococcal RNase R is a new auxiliary factor during translation, impacting the global synthesis of proteins and compromising cell viability. Furthermore, I will present data showing that RNase R is a major regulator of virulence in S. pneumoniae, affecting biofilm formation and virulence. RNase R is involved in at least three different processes fundamental for S. pneumoniae survival and propagation: protein synthesis, virulence, and biofilm formation. Our main goal is to elucidate the dynamic role and pleiotropic effects of RNase R in the ability of the pneumococcus to cause disease.
 

ITQB NOVA Virtual Auditorium
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88487115286