Wilton, J., Cordwell, S.J., Minion, C., O’Neal, D., Djordjevic, M.A., Barchia, I.M., Hahn, M., Walker, M.J. and Djordjevic, S.P., 2009. S Mhp493 (P216) is a proteolytically processed, cilium and heparin binding of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Molecular Microbiology, 71: 566–582.

Summary

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a bacteria species that causes respiratory disease in swine by colonising cilia of epithelial cells in the lung. Cilia are important part of the respiratory system and have a function to sweep mucus and dirt out of the lung. These bacteria cause cilia to stop beating (ciliostasis), hence mucus and dirt are accumulating in the lung. A drug called heparin is normally administered as defense at sites of tissue injury against invading bacteria or other foreign materials. In our case heparin blocks the bacteria from colonising the cilia by binding the bacteria cells. This paper reports a study examining a protein (Mhp493) of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae that is associated with its characteristic of cilium and heparin binding. These proteins play a critical role in facilitating adherence to porcine lung cilia, kidney epithlial-like monolayers and heparin. The paper also shows the Mhp493 protein in relation to other proteins in molecular analysis.