Isolation, purification and characterisation of 2-oxoglutarate reductase from Fusobacterium nucleatum

2-Oxoglutarate reductase from Fusobacterium nucleatum was isolated by thiol-disulphide interchange covalent chromatography. The enzyme was purified approximately 4000-fold and had a molecular mass of 68 kDa. The Michaelis constants for 2-oxoglutarate and NADH were 6.4 x 10(-5) and 0.4 x 10(-5), respectively. The involvement of sulphahydryl groups in catalysis was shown from the inhibition of 2-oxoglutarate reduction in the presence of 2,2'-dipyridyl disulphide and reactivation with 2-mercaptoethanol. Allosteric effectors did not alter the rate of the reaction, or the enzyme stability. With the exception of 2-oxoglutarate, none of the other oxo-acids such as oxaloacetate, pyruvate, 2-oxobutyrate and glyoxylate were reduced. Although 2-oxoglutarate oxidised NADPH to a limited extent (3%), the enzyme was almost entirely specific towards NADH. 2-Oxoglutarate reductase was stable at 45 degrees C for 10 min, while incubation at 60 degrees C abolished all activity.     

Outer membrane proteins as major antigens of Fusobacterium nucleatum

Abstract The immunochemical reactions of rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed to different preparations of Fusobacterium nucleatum i.e, whole cells, peptidoglycan associated proteins, a peptidoglycan-protein complex and a purified 40 kiloDalton (kDa) protein, were investigated on outer membrane preparations of Fusobacterium species and a restricted number of Leptotrichia buccalis after their separation on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gels and electrotransfer to nitrocellulose. All F. nucleatum strains had identical reaction patterns with the immune sera tested. Surface exposed parts of a restricted number of proteins with apparent molecular weights at 70 kDa (a doublet band), 60 kDa, 55 kDa and 40 kDa seemed to be major immunogens. Antigenic related proteins either of identical or slightly deviating electrophoretic mobilities to the 40-kDa protein were observed with the other members of Bacteroidaceae tested. The characteristic 70-kDa protein doublet seemed to be restricted to F. nucleatum although single protein bands of near identical molecular weights belonging to the other species tested also reacted. The data also indicate that the 60-kDa and 55-kDa polypeptides might be present in other species of Fusobacterium .     

Physiological alterations of a Fusobacterium nucleatum strain exposed to oxidative stress

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oxidative stress on physiological and genetic characteristics of Fusobacterium nucleatum and its interference on this microbial identification methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fus. nucleatum ssp. nucleatum ATCC 25586 (wt-strain) and an oxidative-stress-adapted strain derived from the wt-strain (aero-strain) were employed in the study. Cell-free crude protein extracts were obtained from both strains and differentially expressed proteins were identified by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Bacterium identification was performed by conventional biochemical tests, automated Rapid ID 32A system and specific PCR analysis. Genetic diversity between wt- and aero-strain was assessed by arbitrarily-primed (AP)-PCR. There were significant changes in the protein profile of aero-strain. The identification of the wt-strain was confirmed by all methods employed. Similar results were obtained for aero-strain when conventional biochemical tests and PCR were used. However, aero-strain was identified as Fusobacterium varium when submitted to Rapid ID 32A system. According to AP-PCR analysis, no significant genetic alteration was detected in aero-strain. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptive response of Fus. nucleatum to oxidative stress is associated with changes on its biology, which may lead to misidentification of the organism, according to the conventional identification methods. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Oxidative stress may act as a cause of adaptive response in Fus. nucleatum with consequences to its biology, such as alterations on biochemical and physiological profile.     

具核梭杆菌对结直肠癌小鼠化疗敏感性的影响

目的研究具核梭杆菌对结直肠癌小鼠化疗敏感性的影响。方法建立结直肠癌荷瘤小鼠,分为空白对照组、5-氟尿嘧啶对照组和实验组、奥沙利铂实验组和对照组、伊立替康实验组和对照组、阿霉素实验组和对照组、丝裂霉素实验组和对照组,每组5只;各实验组荷瘤鼠灌胃给予具核梭杆菌菌液(10~9CFU),0.2 mL/d,1次/周。连续灌胃4周后,5-氟尿嘧啶实验组、阿霉素实验组、丝裂霉素实验组荷瘤鼠分别腹腔注射给予30.00 mg/(kg·d)、1.75 mg/(kg·d)、2.00 mg/(kg·d)对应药物,1次/d,连用7 d;奥沙利铂实验组、伊立替康实验组荷瘤鼠分别第1天腹腔注射给予29 mg/kg、66 mg/kg对应药物,其余6 d用生理盐水0.1 mL代替。各对照组荷瘤鼠除不灌胃具核梭杆菌菌液外,其余操作均与实验组相同。对比各实验组和对照组的瘤重和抑瘤率(IR%)。结果各组成瘤裸鼠一般情况均正常,肿瘤呈膨胀性生长,未见明显浸润或转移发生。各实验组荷瘤鼠的瘤重(g)均显著大于对照组荷瘤鼠[(1.42±0.15)vs(0.97±0.12),(1.76±0.16)vs(1.45±0.13),(1.50±0.09)vs(1.03±0.08),(1.38±0.07)vs(0.87±0.05),(1.26±0.08)vs(0.79±0.05);均P<0.05],IR%显著小于对照组荷瘤鼠[(27.55±2.83)vs(50.51±5.02),(10.20±1.78)vs(26.02±2.36),(23.47±2.76)vs(47.45±4.86),(29.59±3.02)vs(55.61±5.35),(35.71±3.47)vs(59.69±5.45);均P<0.05]。结论具核梭杆菌降低抗结直肠癌药物的敏感性。     

Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer: A mechanistic overview

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer in the world. There are many risk factors involved in CRC. According to recent findings, the tumor microenvironment and feces samples of patients with CRC are enriched by Fusobacterium nucleatum. Thus, F. nucleatum is proposed as one of the risk factors in the initiation and progression of CRC. The most important mechanisms of Fusobacterium nucleatum involved in CRC carcinogenesis are immune modulation (such as increasing myeloid-derived suppressor cells and inhibitory receptors of natural killer cells), virulence factors (such as FadA and Fap2), microRNAs (such as miR-21), and bacteria metabolism. The aim of this review was to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the action of F. nucleatum in CRC.     

具核梭杆菌促进结直肠癌发生发展机制研究进展

具核梭杆菌(Fusobacterium nucleatum)是一种人体共生菌,尤其富集于口腔,在特定情况下可导致机会感染.近年来,随着微生物群与健康或疾病相关性研究的深入,具核梭杆菌与结直肠癌(colorectal cancer,CRC)之间的关联性研究备受关注.大量临床研究表明,具核梭杆菌在CRC中更为富集,且进一步...     

Diisopropylfluorophosphate-binding proteins in the outer membrane of Fusobacterium nucleatum: strain variations

Six strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum were tested for their ability to react with [3H]diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), a serine protease inhibitor. Several cytoplasmic proteins were labelled but the strongest labelling was regularly observed in a few outer membrane proteins. The number and the molecular mass of the proteins detected varied according to the strain tested. A 61 kDa protein was labelled in all strains tested, including the two type strains ATCC 10953 and ATCC 25586. A 65 kDa protein was particularly strongly labelled in strains Fev1 and F6.     

含硫氰酸根离子的乳过氧化物酶-I--H2O2系统对Pg和Fn生长的影响

目的研究含生理浓度硫氰酸根离子(SCN-)的乳过氧化物酶(LP)-I--H2O2抗菌系统对牙龈卟啉单胞菌(Pg)和具核梭杆菌(Fn)生长的影响.方法 Pg和Fn各分5组每组含Pg(6.0×108/ml)或Fn(1.0×108/ml)菌悬液、含不同浓度I-的LP-I-系统、SCN,在37 C震荡水浴分别培养0 min(加H2O2前)和30min,5μl DTT终止反应,10倍浓度系列稀释,接种于BHI-S琼脂培养基,厌氧培养4 d,并计数CFU.结果 I-浓度增加至大于等于500 μmol/L时,LP-I-抗菌系统抑菌作用明显高于单独的LP-SCN--系统(P＜0.05).结论生理浓度SCN-存在时,通过增加I-的浓度可达到显著提高LP-I-抗菌系统抑制Pg和Fn生长的作用.     

具核梭杆菌协同Cdk5促进结直肠癌细胞迁移

目的以结直肠癌细胞SW480作为研究载体,分析具核梭杆菌(F.nucleatum)对Cdk5和STAT3途径相关基因及其炎症因子表达的影响,阐明F.nucleatum协同Cdk5促进结直肠癌形成和发展的分子机制。方法以结直肠癌细胞SW480作为研究载体,运用Western Blotting、qPCR、免疫组化和细胞划痕等实验研究F.nucleatum和Cdk5对结直肠癌形成的影响。结果免疫组化结果显示,癌组织Cdk5阳性表达率明显高于癌旁组织(t=8.218,P0.01)。细胞划痕实验结果表明,F.nucleatum菌液作用的结直肠癌细胞迁移率明显高于对照组(24 h:t=5.868,P0.01; 48 h:t=6.941,P0.01)。Western Blotting结果显示,F.nucleatum协同Cdk5可能通过STAT3通路调控结直肠癌细胞凋亡。qPCR结果显示,F.nucleatum菌液作用的结直肠癌细胞的炎症因子表达明显高于对照组(IL-6:t=5.542,P0.05; COX2:t=16.893,P0.01; TNF-α:t=16.963,P0.01; IL-8:t=3.733,P0.01)。结论 F.nucleatum协同Cdk5促进了结直肠癌细胞的迁移。     

Recognition of Fusobacterium nucleatum subgroups Fn-1, Fn-2 and Fn-3 by ribosomal RNA gene restriction patterns

DNA from representative strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum subgroups Fn-1, Fn-2 and Fn-3 was digested with restriction enzymes EcoRI and TaqI and the electrophoretically separated fragments hybridized with a 32P-16S rRNA gene probe from E. coli. The rRNA gene restriction patterns from DNA digested with either enzyme allowed the clustering of strains into the three subgroups. However, TaqI digested DNA yielded a wider distribution of taxonomically useful bands (ca 0.65 +/- 14.3 kbp) and the pattern produced was characteristic of each subgroup. The present method is a simple and reliable means of identifying the three subgroups of F. nucleatum and provides a useful method for further studies of the heterogeneity of F. nucleatum.     

Isolation and characterization of a human neutrophil aggregation defective mutant of Fusobacterium nucleatum

Fusobacterium nucleatum is known to adhere to human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and cause them to aggregate. In this study, we isolated a spontaneously occurring aggregation defective (AGG(-)) mutant and this mutant will be used for future study of the interactions between this bacterium and human PMN. Genomic DNA fingerprinting by random-primed polymerase chain reaction method revealed a difference between the parent strain and the AGG(-) mutant. This mutant also showed an altered phenotype in both microbicidal and phagocytic assays, suggesting that the bacterial factor involved in the aggregation may also be very important for the phagocytosis and, subsequently, the killing by human PMNs. Further study of this mutant may help to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between this pathogen and human PMNs.     

The response to oxidative stress of Fusobacterium nucleatum grown in continuous culture

Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953 was grown in continuous culture and the atmosphere changed stepwise from nitrogen (anaerobiosis) to a mixture of air: oxygen (40:60). No significant differences in biomass were observed and the baseline low level of superoxide dismutase increased only slightly; catalase and peroxidase activities were never detected but the level of NADH oxidase increased more than three-fold when oxygen was introduced into the system. In relation to acidic end-products, the relative proportion of acetate increased while that of butyrate decreased. Due mainly, it would seem, to NADH oxidase activity, the culture maintained a low redox potential (E(h)=-274 mV) even under an atmosphere of 40% oxygen in air and dissolved oxygen was not detected. This may, in part, explain the protective role of F. nucleatum for anaerobes in both biofilm and planktonic phases of aerated, mixed cultures of oral bacteria.     

Oxidative stress response in the opportunistic oral pathogen Fusobacterium nucleatum

The anaerobic, Gram-negative bacillus Fusobacterium nucleatum plays a vital role in oral biofilm formation and the development of periodontal disease. The organism plays a central bridging role between early and late colonizers within dental plaque and plays a protective role against reactive oxygen species. Using a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry approach, we have annotated 78 proteins within the proteome of F. nucleatum subsp. nucleatum and identified those proteins whose apparent intracellular concentrations change in response to either O(2)- or H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress. Three major protein systems were altered in response to oxidative stress: (i) proteins of the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase/thioredoxin reductase system were increased in intracellular concentration; (ii) glycolytic enzymes were modified by oxidation (i.e. D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and fructose 6-phosphate aldolase) or increased in intracellular concentration, with an accompanying decrease in ATP production; and (iii) the intracellular concentrations of molecular chaperone proteins and related proteins (i.e. ClpB, DnaK, HtpG, and HrcA) were increased.     

Coaggregation of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum PK 1594 is mediated by capsular polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide

Previous reports have shown that coaggregation between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, two important periodontopathogens, is mediated by a galactoside on the surface of P. gingivalis and a lectin on F. nucleatum. In the present study, purified capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of P. gingivalis PK 1924 (serotype K5) were found to be able to bind to F. nucleatum cells and to inhibit binding of F. nucleatum to P. gingivalis serotype K5. Sugar binding studies showed that the requirements for binding of P. gingivalis serotype K5 CPS and LPS to the F. nucleatum lectin are: the presence of a metal divalent ion, an axial free hydroxyl group at position 4 and free equatorial hydroxyl groups at position 3 and 6 of d-galactose. These data suggest that P. gingivalis serotype K5- CPS and LPS act as receptors mediating coaggregation between P. gingivalis and fusobacteria.     

A newly developed PCR-based method revealed distinct Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies infection patterns in colorectal cancer

Fusobacterium nucleatum, which has four subspecies (nucleatum, animalis, vincentii and polymorphum), plays an important role in promoting colorectal cancer (CRC). However, as there is no efficient method of differentiating these subspecies in the context of a rich gut microbiota, the compositions in CRC remain largely unknown. In this study, a PCR-based differentiation method enabling profiling of F. nucleatum infection in CRC at the subspecies level was developed. Based on the analysis of 53 F. nucleatum genomes, we identified genetic markers specific to each subspecies and designed primers for the conserved sequences of those markers. The PCR performance of the primers was tested with F. nucleatum and non-nucleatum Fusobacterium strains, and complete consistence with taxonomy was achieved. Additionally, no non-specific amplification occurred when using human DNA. The method was then applied to faecal (n = 58) and fresh-frozen tumour tissue (n = 100) samples from CRC patients, and wide heterogeneity in F. nucleatum subspecies compositions in the gut microbiota among CRC patients was observed. Single-subspecies colonization was common, whereas coexistence of four subspecies was rare. Subspecies animalis was most prevalent, while nucleatum was not frequently detected. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of the pathogenicity of F. nucleatum at the subspecies level and the method developed has potential for clinical and epidemiological use.     

Blastogenesis and polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis in murine spleen cells stimulated with lipoolysaccharide, lipid A and acid-degrade polysaccharide from Fusobacterium nucleatum

Abstract Lipopolysaccharide of Fusobacterium nucleatum strain Fevl was split by acid hydrolysis. The split products, i.e. lipid A and degraded polysaccharide were mitogenic for murine spleen cells as measured by uptake of [³H]thymidine. The uptake of [³H]thymidine was dose-dependent. Incubation of spleen cells with stimulants for 3 days resulted in a polyclonal activation of immunoglobulin synthesis. Higher mitogenic response and immunoglobulin production were found in spleen cells of athymic mice compared to those of thymic mice. The activity of lipid A in stimulating immunoglobulin synthesis was comparable with the parent lipopolysaccharide-Fevl, the degraded polysaccharide being the less potent stimulator.     

Peptostreptococcus micros coaggregates with Fusobacterium nucleatum and non-encapsulated Porphyromonas gingivalis

Coaggregation is one of the potential colonization strategies of oral microorganisms, often involving fimbrial structures in the interactions. In this study, the coaggregation characteristics of the rough and smooth genotypes of the periodontal pathogen Peptostreptococcus micros were compared to investigate the role of the fibril-like structures of the rough genotype in coaggregation. Of the 11 oral species tested, only Fusobacterium nucleatum strains and non-encapsulated Porphyromonas gingivalis strains coaggregated with P. micros. No differences in coaggregation between the smooth type (Sm), the rough type (Rg) and the smooth variant of the Rg type (Rg(Sm)) of P. micros were observed. Heat-stable, periodate-sensitive structures on P. micros appeared to interact with heat- and protease-sensitive structures on F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. These data indicate that these unimodal coaggregations are not mediated by the proteinaceous fibril-like structures of the Rg genotype, but by carbohydrates present on both genotypes of P. micros.