A novel extracellular metallopeptidase domain shared by animal host-associated mutualistic and pathogenic microbes.

ABSTRACT: The mucosal microbiota is recognised as an important factor for our health, with many disease states linked to imbalances in the normal community structure. Hence, there is considerable interest in identifying the molecular basis of human-microbe interactions. In this work we investigated the capacity of microbes to thrive on mucosal surfaces, either as mutualists, commensals or pathogens, using comparative genomics to identify co-occurring molecular traits. We identified a novel domain we named M60-like/PF13402 (new Pfam entry PF13402), which was detected mainly among proteins from animal host mucosa-associated prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes ranging from mutualists to pathogens. Lateral gene transfers between distantly related microbes explained their shared M60-like/PF13402 domain.

SUBMITTER: Nakjang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3267712 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature