Exo sialidases (neuraminidases) catalyse the removal of terminal sialic acid residues in oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids and synthetic substrates to release free sialic acid. This class function to release sialic acids for use as carbon and energy sources for non-pathogenic bacterium while in pathogenic microorganisms, sialidases have been suggested to be pathogenic factors.
Defined by 3 residues: ASP:A-50 [auth A-92]GLU:A-218 [auth A-260]TYR:A-328 [auth A-370]