Bacterial lipoxygenases are associated with host-microbe interactions and may provide cross-kingdom host jumps

In this bioinformatic research, we studied the association of bacterial lipoxygenases (LOXs) with pathogenic and symbiotic traits by text networks analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and statistical analysis of molecular structure. We found that bacterial lipoxygenases are associated with a broad host range — from coral to plants and humans. In humans, bacterial LOXs are associated with opportunistic and nosocomial infections as well as with affecting specific patient populations like cystic fibrosis patients. Moreover, bacterial LOXs are associated with plant-human (or human-plant) host jumps in emerging pathogens. We also inferred a possible mechanism of such host jumps working via a host’s oxylipin signalling “spoofing”. Graphical abstract