The tail nick augments Aeromonas sobria serine protease (ASP) activity in plasma through retarding inhibition by α2-macroglobulin

► The tail nick of a bacterial protease ASP retards inhibition by α2-macroglobulin. ► This is the first report of such an effect of nicking in a protease. ► Consequently, the nicked ASP can keep proteolytic activity for longer in the host. ► This nick may be an invention of Aeromonas sobria to augment ASP virulence.