Open AccessOuter membrane‐associated serine protease of intestinal spirochetes
Author(s) -
Muniappa Nagaraja,
Duhamel Gerald E
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb12638.x
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , treponema , serine protease , bacterial outer membrane , protease , pathogenic bacteria , intestinal mucosa , bacteria , virology , gene , enzyme , escherichia coli , biochemistry , genetics , medicine , syphilis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
Pathogenic intestinal spirochetes cause damage to the intestinal mucosa of humans and animals by an unknown mechanism. The purpose of this study was to assess the pathogenic intestinal spirochetes Serpulina hyodysenteriae , Serpulina pilosicoli , and Brachyspira aalborgi and the non‐pathogenic commensal intestinal spirochetes Serpulina innocens and Treponema succinifaciens for protease activity. A partially heat stable, subtilisin‐like, serine protease was identified in the outer membrane of all spirochetes and thus may be essential for survival in the intestinal environment. The outer membrane protease may indirectly contribute to intestinal damage caused by pathogenic spirochetes during association with the mucosal surface of the host.