Reports from Katholieke University Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research highlight recent research in enzyme research
2008 JAN 15 -- A report, 'Legionella pneumophila exhibits plasminogen activator activity,' is newly published data in Microbiology. According to recent research published in the journal Microbiology, "Based on their localization at the boundary of the bacterial cell and its environment, outer-membrane proteins (Omps) are important determinants for interaction of bacteria with their host cell. Therefore, they can be considered as important determinants for virulence." "Looking for Legionella pneumophila Omps potentially involved in virulence, we identified a gene encoding a homologue of the plasminogen activator (Pla) of Yersinia pestis. Pla belongs to the class of omptins, a family of surface proteases/adhesins that exhibit different virulence-associated functions. In this report we describe the cloning and identification of the plasminogen activator homologue Lpa of L. pneumophila and demonstrate its outer-membrane localization. Transcriptional analysis of the Lpa region revealed expression of the gene in both exponential and stationary growth phase and showed that transcription of the lpa gene is directed by its own promoter," wrote L. Vranckx and colleagues, Katholieke University Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research. The researchers concluded: "We also show, to our knowledge for the first time, that L. pneumophila has the capacity to convert plasminogen into plasmin by the action of the outer-membrane Lpa protein." Vranckx and colleagues published their study in Microbiology (Legionella pneumophila exhibits plasminogen activator activity. Microbiology, 2007;153(Pt 11):3757-65). For additional information, contact L. Vranckx, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Laboratory for Bacteriology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. The publisher's contact information for the journal Microbiology is: Society General Microbiology, Marlborough House, Basingstoke Rd., Spencers Woods, Reading RG7 1AG, Berks, England. Keywords: Belgium, Leuven, Bacteriology, Bubonic Plague, Enzyme Research, Enzymology, Legionella, Legionellosis, Microbiology, Plasminogen, Protease, Yersinia Pestis. This article was prepared by World Disease Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, World Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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