Published in

National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 19(113), p. 5406-5411, 2016

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1600546113

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MIB–MIP is a mycoplasma system that captures and cleaves immunoglobulin G

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Significance Mycoplasmas are minimal pathogenic bacteria able to infect humans and a wide range of economically important animals; as such, they are major causes of concern in the medical and veterinary fields. These pathogens often lead to chronic infections, and their mechanisms of immunity evasion are poorly known. Here we describe a two-protein system from the ruminant pathogen Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri that is involved in the capture and cleavage of antibodies. MIB is able to capture the antibodies and to subsequently recruit MIP, a protease that is able to cleave the antibody heavy chain. The MIB–MIP system appears to be widespread among pathogenic mycoplasmas and is potentially a key player for the virulence and immunity evasion mechanisms of these bacteria.