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Identification of new sphingomyelinases D in pathogenic fungi and other pathogenic organisms.

ABSTRACT: Sphingomyelinases D (SMases D) or dermonecrotic toxins are well characterized in Loxosceles spider venoms and have been described in some strains of pathogenic microorganisms, such as Corynebacterium sp. After spider bites, the SMase D molecules cause skin necrosis and occasional severe systemic manifestations, such as acute renal failure. In this paper, we identified new SMase D amino acid sequences from various organisms belonging to 24 distinct genera, of which, 19 are new. These SMases D share a conserved active site and a C-terminal motif. We suggest that the C-terminal tail is responsible for stabilizing the entire internal structure of the SMase D Tim barrel and that it can be considered an SMase D hallmark in combination with the amino acid residues from the active site. Most of these enzyme sequences were discovered from fungi and the SMase D activity was experimentally confirmed in the fungus Aspergillus flavus. Because most of these novel SMases D are from organisms that are endowed with pathogenic properties similar to those evoked by these enzymes alone, they might be associated with their pathogenic mechanisms.

SUBMITTER: Dias-Lopes C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3815110 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Identification of new sphingomyelinases D in pathogenic fungi and other pathogenic organisms.

Dias-Lopes Camila C Neshich Izabella A P IA Neshich Goran G Ortega José Miguel JM Granier Claude C Chávez-Olortegui Carlos C Molina Franck F Felicori Liza L

PloS one 20131101 11

Sphingomyelinases D (SMases D) or dermonecrotic toxins are well characterized in Loxosceles spider venoms and have been described in some strains of pathogenic microorganisms, such as Corynebacterium sp. After spider bites, the SMase D molecules cause skin necrosis and occasional severe systemic manifestations, such as acute renal failure. In this paper, we identified new SMase D amino acid sequences from various organisms belonging to 24 distinct genera, of which, 19 are new. These SMases D sha ...[more]

PMID: 24223912

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Project description:Infectious diseases remain as an important public health threat to humans. Research into pathogens can be useful for planning an organized response to infectious diseases. Bibliometric analysis is an important method for scientific research and assessing capability. In this study, 100 pathogens of public health importance were selected, and the distributions of annual, national, institutional, and journal publications on Science Citation Index (SCI) journals were statistically analyzed. The United States of America ranked the first in terms of the number of relevant studies published. China attaches great importance to the prevention and control of infectious diseases, but still needs to improve in the following areas: for example, insufficient SCI reports on particular pathogens, institutions SCI reports on pathogens lower than world top pathogen research institutions, and lack of influential international pathogen-related journals. Scientific literature databases are important tools for science-of-science analysis. The findings of this study shed light on the hot spots and the ignored spots in pathogen researches, and thus would be useful for drawing a national and institutional research plan. Highlights • Scientific question• Scientific literature databases are important tools for science-of-science analysis, which can be referred as Science of the Science of biosafety/biosecurity (SSBS) in the field of biosafety and biosecurity.• Evidence before this study• In this study, we conducted a comprehensive literature analysis of pathogens, including health-threatening pathogens (HTPs) and biodefense-associated pathogens (BDAPs).• New findings• Our new findings indicated that some literature on pathogens, particularly BDAPs, showed a decrease followed by an increase. The total number of Science Citation Index reports on pathogens in China is the second highest in the world, but it is significantly behind the number of published studies in the United States. Particularly, SCI reports on BDAPs in China is insufficient, specifically at the university level.• Significance of this study• The findings of this study highlight the hot spots and ignored spots in pathogen research; therefore, can be helpful on drawing a national and institutional research plan.

Dataset Information

Identification of new sphingomyelinases D in pathogenic fungi and other pathogenic organisms.

Publications

Identification of new sphingomyelinases D in pathogenic fungi and other pathogenic organisms.

Similar Datasets

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