Global Network Of Human-Pathogen Protein Interactions Created And Explored

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Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 15 Feb 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The first global analysis of the interactions between human proteins and the proteins of viruses of other pathogens has recently been developed, as reported on February 15 in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens, a part of the Public Library of Science. The network of interactions that it describes allows researchers to hone in on possible important points for intervention in the development of theraputics against infectious diseases.

This is relatively new territory for infectious disease biologists, according to the article. "Infectious diseases result in millions of deaths each year," said co-author Matt Dyer. "Although much effort has been directed towards the study of how infection by a pathogen causes disease in humans, only recently have large data sets for protein interactions become publicly available."

In the study, the researchers developed a computational approach to analyze the data, which was drawn from 190 different pathogens, making up 10,477 interactions between human and pathogenic proteins. Particular attention was paid to two major networks of human proteins: those that interact with at least two viral pathogens, and those which interact with at least two bacterial pathogens.

Gene Ontology terms, which evaluate relationships between the proteins, were computed for both sets of proteins and provided key information about their functions. It was found that the pathogenic proteins preferentially interact with two classes of human proteins referred to hubs and bottlenecks. Hubs have a central location in the network, interacting with many other proteins in the broader human protein spectrum. Bottlenecks, in contrast, lie on many of the shortest paths in the network.

It seems that pathogens maximize potential by focusing on these important proteins during infection. By having a deeper understanding of this process, researchers can focus on strategies to prevent or cure infections. Since it is often the case that human proteins are the mediators for pathogenic effects, and these proteins are also known to be involved in cancer pathways, this suggests many interesting parallels between infection and cancer, implying multiple directions for further research.

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PLoS Computational Biology (www.ploscompbiol.org) features works of exceptional significance that further our understanding of living systems at all scales through the application of computational methods. All works published in PLoS Computational Biology are open access. Everything is immediately available subject only to the condition that the original authorship and source are properly attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons Attribution License.

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The landscape of human proteins interacting with viruses and other pathogens.
Dyer MD, Murali TM, Sobral BW
PLoS Pathog 4(2): e32.
doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.0040032
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Written by Anna Sophia McKenney
Copyright: Medical News Today
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