This family consists of several Salmonella PipA (pathogenicity island-encoded protein A) and related phage sequences. PipA is thought to contribute to enteric but not to systemic salmonellosis [1]. The family carries a highly conserved HEXXH sequence motif along with several highly conserved glutamic acid residues which might be indicative of the family being a metallo-peptidase.

1: Identification of a pathogenicity island required for Salmonella enteropathogenicity. Wood MW, Jones MA, Watson PR, Hedges S, Wallis TS, Galyov EE; Mol Microbiol 1998;29:883-891. PMID:9723926

2: Variable assortment of prophages provides a transferable repertoire of pathogenic determinants in Salmonella. Figueroa-Bossi N, Uzzau S, Maloriol D, Bossi L; Mol Microbiol 2001;39:260-271. PMID:11136448