Nucleoside Binding by a Surface Lipoprotein Governs Conjugative ICE Acquisition in Ruminant Mycoplasmas

This project aims to investigate whether the surface lipoproteins CDS14 and P48, both required for ICEA-mediated conjugation in Mycoplasma agalactiae, physically interact during mating. CDS14 is encoded by ICEA and constitutively expressed in donor cells, whereas P48 is expressed by both donor and recipient strains as part of an ABC transporter system. Using reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays combined with mass spectrometry, we will test the hypothesis that CDS14 and P48 form a functional complex that facilitates ICEA transfer.