In Silico Structural and Functional Characterization of HtrA Proteins of Leptospira spp.: Possible Implications in Pathogenesis

Autor(es)

Daroz, Brenda Bevilaqua ^{[1, 2]} ; Virgilio Fernandes, Luis Guilherme ^[1] ; Teixeira, Aline Florencio ^[1] ; Tabet Oller Nascimento, Ana Lucia ^{[1, 2]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Inst Butantan, Lab Especial Desenvolvimento Vacinas, BR-05503000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Inst Ciencias Biomed, Programa Posgrad Interunidades Biotecnol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE; v. 5, n. 4 DEC 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by the pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The identification of conserved outer membrane proteins among pathogenic strains is a major research target in elucidating mechanisms of pathogenicity. Surface-exposed proteins are most probably the ones involved in the interaction of leptospires with the environment. Some spirochetes use outer membrane proteases as a way to penetrate host tissues. HtrA is a family of proteins found in various cell types, from prokaryotes to primates. They are a set of proteases usually composed of a serine protease and PDZ domains, and they are generally transported to the periplasm. Here, we identified four genes-annotated as HtrA, LIC11111, LIC20143, LIC20144 and LIC11037-and another one annotated as a serine protease, LIC11112. It is believed that the last forms a functional heterodimer with LIC11111, since they are organized in one operon. Our analyses showed that these proteins are highly conserved among pathogenic strains. LIC11112, LIC20143, and LIC11037 have the serine protease domain with the conserved catalytic triad His-Asp-Ser. This is the first bioinformatics analysis of HtrA proteins from Leptospira that suggests their proteolytic activity potential. Experimental studies are warranted to elucidate this possibility. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 18/21959-8 - Obtenção de mutantes de Leptospira biflexa e Leptospira interrogans para a avaliação do papel funcional de proteínas do tipo HtrA presentes nas estirpes patogênicas
• Beneficiário: Brenda Daroz
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado Direto
• Processo FAPESP: 17/06731-8 - Aplicação de CRISPR-interferência na elucidação da patogênese da leptospirose e desenvolvimento de novas estratégias para obtenção de mutantes knockout
• Beneficiário: Luis Guilherme Virgílio Fernandes
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 16/11541-0 - Avaliação do potencial vacinal de frações antigênicas obtidas em Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni utilizando hamster como modelo animal
• Beneficiário: Aline Florencio Teixeira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 14/50981-0 - Busca de proteínas de superfície nas sequências do genoma da Leptospira interrogans: caracterização funcional e imunológica para o entendimento de mecanismos envolvidos na patogênese de bactéria
• Beneficiário: Ana Lucia Tabet Oller do Nascimento
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático