Enterococcus

Enterococcus is a genus of Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacteria that are common commensals in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals (StatPearls, 2023). While often benign, they are significant opportunistic pathogens, with Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium being the primary species associated with clinical disease (NIH, 2022). They are leading causes of nosocomial infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacteremia, and infective endocarditis (Wikipedia, 2024). Enterococci are characterized by high levels of intrinsic resistance to many antibiotics and a notable ability to acquire resistance to glycopeptides, leading to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), which are recognized by the CDC as a serious public health threat (CDC, 2019). Drugs targeting these organisms typically act by inhibiting cell wall peptidoglycan assembly or disrupting protein synthesis via the 50S ribosome (PubMed, 2021). Because Enterococcus is a genus of biological organisms rather than a specific molecular receptor or enzyme, it is classified as a pathogen rather than a traditional therapeutic target in molecular pharmacology.

Other names

EnterococciGroup D streptococciLactic acid bacteria

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis (glycopeptides, beta-lactams), inhibition of protein synthesis (oxazolidinones, aminoglycosides, streptogramins), and disruption of bacterial cell membrane potential (lipopeptides).