{
  "abstract": "Staphylococcus aureus penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4) is a non-essential, low-molecular-weight transpeptidase that contributes to peptidoglycan maintenance under conventional laboratory growth conditions. Several recent studies have suggested that the protein’s cellular functions have far-reaching consequences, directly affecting S. aureus success as a human pathogen. Herein, we review recent work implicating PBP4 as a modulator of a noncanonical PBP2A-independent methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) phenotype that extends to the most recently developed fifth-generation cephalosporins. Furthermore, we review emerging studies indicating that PBP4 is a previously unappreciated virulence factor that governs an essential step in osteomyelitis pathogenesis, namely the invasion of osteocyte lacuna-canalicular networks (OLCNs). Given the protein’s involvement in these two disease-related processes, we discuss PBP4’s potential as a non-traditional antimicrobial therapeutic target.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States",
    "Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Vijay Singh Gondil"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Monica A. Stefaniak"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Christian Melander"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Paul M. Dunman"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3j3vfgma46rt2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fcimb.2026.1940058",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13735917/",
  "id": "3j3vfgma46rt2",
  "issns": [
    "2235-2988"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1940058",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Review"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223186120",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1940058/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13735917",
  "pmid": "42991445",
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3j3vfgma46rt2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:21:30Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13735917",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1940058"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2725|Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Penicillin binding protein 4: an emerging Staphylococcus aureus therapeutic target",
  "title_text": "Penicillin binding protein 4: an emerging Staphylococcus aureus therapeutic target",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:21:30Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3j3vfgma46rt2",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology",
  "versions": []
}