Protein
ADP-ribosylation is a reversible post-translational modification, which
alters protein activity, localization, interactome or stability,
leading to perturbation of cell signaling. This review summarizes the
emerging data indicating that host cell ADP-ribosylating enzymes,
poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs), influence the course of a
bacterial infection, in parallel to ADP-ribosylating bacterial toxins.
Host cell PARP targeting could be an efficient therapeutic approach to
treat certain bacterial infections, possibly by repurposing the approved
or clinical trial PARP inhibitors developed for cancer therapy.