Zonula occludens toxins and their prophages in Campylobacter species.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We previously showed that zonula occludens toxin (Zot) encoded by Campylobacter concisus zot (808T) gene has the potential to initiate inflammatory bowel disease. This Zot protein caused prolonged intestinal epithelial barrier damage, induced intestinal epithelial and macrophage production of tumor necrosis factor-α and enhanced the responses of macrophages to other microbes. In order to understand the potential virulence of Zot proteins in other Campylobacter species, in this study we examined their presence, similarities, motifs and prophages.

Methods

The presence of Zot proteins in Campylobacter species was examined by searching for the Zot family domain in multiple protein databases. Walker A and Walker B motifs in Zot proteins were identified using protein se

SUBMITTER: Liu F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5025632 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature