Extracellular Nucleases of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Degrade Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Impair Macrophage Activity of the Host

What is it about?

Bacteria secrect extracellular nucleases to evade the killing of neutrophil extracellular traps and produce deoxyadenosine to impair phagocytosis

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Why is it important?

Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus extracellular nucleases possess nuclease activity and 5'-nucleotidase activity, which directly degrade neutrophil extracellular traps DNA backbone to deoxyadenosie. This mechanism represent an ingenious method for bacteria to utilize host components for survival and simultaneously perturb host immune defenses. .