Evaluation of Cuticle Degrading Collagenase of Pseudomonas sp. as Biocontrol Agent Against Nematodes

Abstract

The ability to digest native collagen makes bacterial collagenases perfect for the degradation of the extracellular matrices of animal cells. These enzymes act as important virulence factors in a variety of pathological processes. Collagens being the most abundant proteins in all higher organisms, a diverse spectrum of therapeutic and biotechnological applications exists for bacterial collagenases. An extracellular collagenolytic enzyme isolated from Pseudomonas sp. has found to be effective in degrading cuticular proteins of nematodes. The present study demonstrates the digestion of intact cuticles of fish nematode and plant rootknot nematode Meloidogyne javanica, by Pseudomonas sp. collagenase. The degradation of cuticular proteins could prove to be an attractive way in controlling pre- and post- parasitic forms of nematodes in the near future.