1 F. A. Janssens Laboratory of Genetics, Cathoiic University of Leuven, W. De Croylaan 42, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium. E-mail: Janssens%faj%agr@CC3.KULEUVEN.AC.BE; Tel. (16) 220921; Fax (16) 200720.
A conserved surface-exposed domain in major outer membrane proteins of pathogenic Pseudomonas and Branhamella species shares sequence homology with the calcium-binding repeats of the eukaryotic extracellular matrix protein thrombospondin.