A cytokinin-activating enzyme in Bordetella pertussis: potential paradigm of a novel class of pathogenic factors
Antibiotic resistance is considered one of the greatest threats to human health. Cases of antibiotic resistance are constantly reported. Infectious diseases could reduce our lifespan to an extent similar to the pre-antibiotic era. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to identify novel antimicrobial therapeutic tools. In this context however, to discover alternative treatments against infections, it is necessary to identify new features related to bacterial pathogenesis and microbiology. We have recently identified in B. pertussis a homolog of LONELY GUY family of plant enzymes and characterized its physiological product 6-O-methylguanine a cytokinin-like molecule. Our in-silico investigation has revealed that priority pathogens included in the report published by World Health Organization contain LONELY GUY sequences. Therefore, LONELY GUYs and their products, could represent a new family of potential virulence factors.
Keywords - ENGLISH
Bordetella pertussis, cytokinin, phosphoribohydrolase
Active participants in the research line (PI last author or *)
Enrico Balducci
Pillar
Human Health
Macroareas in Human Health
Healthy and pathogenic microorganisms
Email Address
enrico.balducci@unicam.it
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