Protein M
Protein M (locus MG281) is an immunoglobulin-binding protein originally found on the cell surface of the human pathogenic bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium. It is presumably a universal antibody-binding protein, as it is known to be reactive against all antibody types tested so far. It is capable of preventing the antigen-antibody interaction due to its high binding affinity to any antibody. The Scripps Research Institute announced its discovery in 2014. It was detected from the bacterium while investigating its role in patients with a cancer, multiple myeloma. Homologous proteins are found in other Mycoplasma bacteria. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, another human pathogen, has a homolog termed IbpM (locus MPN400). Discovery Mycoplasma genitalium was discovered in 1980 from two male patients with non-gonococcal urethritis at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London. After two years, in 1983, it was identified as a new species. After several years of intense research, it was found to be the cause of sexually transmitted diseases, such as urethritis (inflammation of the urinary tract) both in men and women, and also cervicitis (inflammation of cervix) and pelvic inflammation in women. However, the molecular nature of its pathogenicity remained unknown for three decades. On 6 February 2014, The Scripps Research Institute announced the