Quantitative detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimA genotypes in dental plaque

We developed quantitative fimA genotype assays and applied them in a pilot study investigating the fimbrial genotype distribution of Porphyromonas gingivalis in European subjects with or without chronic periodontitis. P. gingivalis was found in 71% and 9% of the samples from patients and healthy subjects, respectively. Enumeration of total P. gingivalis cell numbers by polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence showed excellent correspondence (r = 0.964). 73% of positive samples contained multiple fimA genotypes, but generally one genotype predominated by one to three orders of magnitude. Genotype II predominated in 60% of the samples. Genotype IV occurred with similar prevalence (73%) as genotype II but predominated in only 20% of the samples. Genotypes I, III and V were of much lower prevalence and cell densities of the latter two remained sparse. Our results suggest marked differences among the fimA genotypes' ability to colonize host sites with high cell numbers.     

Detection of periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis by loop-mediated isothermal amplification method

A method for nucleic acid amplification, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was employed to develop a rapid and simple detection system for periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis. A set of six primers was designed by targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. By the detection system, target DNA was amplified and visualized on agarose gel within 30 min under isothermal condition at 64 degrees C with a detection limit of 20 cells of P. gingivalis. Without gel electrophoresis, the LAMP amplicon was directly visualized in the reaction tube by addition of SYBR Green I for a naked-eye inspection. The LAMP reaction was also assessed by white turbidity of magnesium pyrophosphate (a by-product of LAMP) in the tube. Detection limits of these naked-eye inspections were 20 cells and 200 cells, respectively. Although false-positive DNA amplification was observed from more than 10(7) cells of Porphyromonas endodontalis, no amplification was observed in other five related oral pathogens. Further, quantitative detection of P. gingivalis was accomplished by a real-time monitoring of the LAMP reaction using SYBR Green I with linearity over a range of 10(2)-10(6) cells. The real-time LAMP was then applied to clinical samples of dental plaque and demonstrated almost identical results to the conventional real-time PCR with an advantage of rapidity. These findings indicate the potential usefulness of LAMP for detecting and quantifying P. gingivalis, especially in its rapidity and simplicity.     

Binding and degradation of lactoferrin by Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens

Abstract The ability of laboratory and clinical strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens to bind and to degrade lactoferrin (Lf) has been assessed. Lf bound readily to whole cells of each species apparently via a high-affinity site and one or more low-affinity sites. P. gingivalis showed a lower affinity for Lf than the other two species ( P < 0.001). Virtually all strains of P. gingivalis completely degraded Lf under the conditions employed, whereas P. intermedia and P. nigrescens showed only partial degradation. These data suggest that Lf binds to a high-affinity receptor on all these bacteria and, particularly in the case of P. gingivalis , is then degraded by cell-associated proteases. This property may provide protection to the cell against the effects of Lf in periodontal sites and so is a possible virulence factor in disease. There was no association between the ability to degrade Lf and whether the strains had orginated from healthy or diseased oral sites.     

Inactivation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) by Porphyromonas gingivalis

In response to periodontal inflammation, host cells release matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that contribute to periodontal tissue breakdown unless the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) neutralize their activity. In this study, the capacity of Porphyromonas gingivalis to inactivate TIMP-1 was investigated. Proteolytic digestion of TIMP-1 was monitored by SDS-PAGE and Western immunoblotting. Planktonic cells and biofilms of P. gingivalis degraded TIMP-1 with production of several lower molecular mass fragments. Incorporation of human serum in the assay mixture had no effect on the degradation of TIMP-1 by P. gingivalis, whereas a cysteine proteinase inhibitor caused a complete inhibition. Using a fluorogenic assay, it was found that TIMP-1 treated with P. gingivalis lost its capacity to inhibit MMP-9 activity. This study revealed the potential of P. gingivalis to inactivate TIMP-1 through proteolytic degradation. This phenomenon may contribute to increasing significantly the level of active MMPs in affected periodontal sites and subsequently favor tissue destruction.     

牙龈卟啉单胞菌影响牙龈上皮细胞miR1555p 通过JAK/STAR信号通路作用牙周炎的机制

目的 通过生物信息学对GEO数据库进行分析筛选miRNA后运用分子生物学手段验证并对机制进行深入探讨,为未来牙周炎治疗的生物标志物筛选及靶向治疗提供理论依据。 方法 通过生物信息学分析GEO数据库发现牙周炎患者中差异表达的miRNA。在DIANA生信预测网站中发现了与JAK/STAT信号传导方式有关的miRNA。随后,TargetScan被用于预测miRNA的靶mRNA,该mRNA不仅在牙周炎中差异表达,而且与JAK/STAT信号传导有关。利用基因集富集分析(GSEA)寻找与JAK/STAT信号转导途径紧密相关的基因集。通过实时定量PCR(qRTPCR)和免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测在牙周炎中差异表达并与JAK/STAT信号有关的miRNA和mRNA的表达。通过免疫组织化学(IHC)观察组织中IL6ST的表达。通过双重荧光素酶测定法证实了miRNA和mRNA之间的关系。此外,采用细胞内氧化活性氧红色荧光检测试剂盒检测活性氧(ROS)的变化。 结果 在牙周炎患者中,与正常组织比较,MiR1555p被下调,mRNA IL6ST被上调且差异均具有统计学意义(t=9.188 7、2.852 1,P=0.000 6、0.015 7)。与对照组比较,miR1555p在P.gingivalis处理组表达情况出现明显下降且IL6ST在处理后表达量出现明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(t=2.125 3、1.852 0,P=0.013 5、0.015 7)。miR1555p具有IL6ST 3′非翻译区的靶结合位点。通过过表达miR1555p能够明显抑制JAK/STAT信号通路pSTAT3、pJAK2、IL6ST蛋白的表达(t=1.924 8、2.530 8、3.107 5,P=0.023 1、0.011 6、0.010 0)。感染牙龈卟啉单胞菌后,细胞中的ROS产生增加(t=3.051 2、9.632 7,均P结论 牙龈卟啉单胞菌可抑制miR1555p表达,激活GECs中的JAK/STAR信号,促进牙周炎的发生和发展。     

Biological activities of surface-associated material from Porphyromonas gingivalis

Abstract Surface-associated material (SAM) from Porphyromonas gingivalis was tested for in vitro biological activities that may be relevant to the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis. SAM was found to stimulate bone resorption at a concentration of 1.0 μg/ml and this was inhibited by indomethacin, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein and anti-tumour necrosis factor antibody. At a concentration of 10 ng/ml, the SAM inhibited DNA and collagen synthesis in osteoblasts and murine calvaria and DNA synthesis in fibroblasts, monocytes and epidermal cells. Therefore, easily solubilised surface components from P. gingivalis could play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis if these activities operate in vivo.     

Carbohydrates act as receptors for the periodontitis-associated bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis: a study of bacterial binding to glycolipids

In this study we show for the first time the use of carbohydrate chains on glycolipids as receptors for the periodontitis-associated bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis. Previous studies have shown that this bacterium has the ability to adhere to and invade the epithelial lining of the dental pocket. Which receptor(s) the adhesin of P. gingivalis exploit in the adhesion to epithelial cells has not been shown. Therefore, the binding preferences of this specific bacterium to structures of carbohydrate origin from more than 120 different acid and nonacid glycolipid fractions were studied. The bacteria were labeled externally with (35)S and used in a chromatogram binding assay. To enable detection of carbohydrate receptor structures for P. gingivalis, the bacterium was exposed to a large number of purified total glycolipid fractions from a variety of organs from different species and different histo-blood groups. P. gingivalis showed a preference for fractions of human and pig origin for adhesion. Both nonacid and acid glycolipids were used by the bacterium, and a preference for shorter sugar chains was noticed. Bacterial binding to human acid glycolipid fractions was mainly obtained in the region of the chromatograms where sulfated carbohydrate chains usually are found. However, the binding pattern to nonacid glycolipid fractions suggests a core chain of lactose bound to the ceramide part as a tentative receptor structure. The carbohydrate binding of the bacterium might act as a first step in the bacterial invasion process of the dental pocket epithelium, subsequently leading to damage to periodontal tissue and tooth loss.     

Production of protective antibodies against Porphyromonas gingivalis strains by immunization with recombinant gingipain domains

We studied the effect of antibodies against Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain domains, preparing them against three recombinant fragments of RgpA (catalytic domain, r-Rgp CAT; hemagglutinin domains, r-Rgp 44 and r-Rgps 15-27) and one fragment of Kgp (catalytic domain, r-Kgp CAT). Enhancement of opsonization and killing by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were measured in the noninvasive FDC 381 and invasive W50 strains of P. gingivalis. Anti-r-Rgp 44 was the most effective in both strains of P. gingivalis. The present findings lead us to recommend RgpA 44 as a candidate immunogen for vaccines against P. gingivalis.     

A structural comparison of human serum transferrin and human lactoferrin

The transferrins are a family of proteins that bind free iron in the blood and bodily fluids. Serum transferrins function to deliver iron to cells via a receptor-mediated endocytotic process as well as to remove toxic free iron from the blood and to provide an anti-bacterial, low-iron environment. Lactoferrins (found in bodily secretions such as milk) are only known to have an anti-bacterial function, via their ability to tightly bind free iron even at low pH, and have no known transport function. Though these proteins keep the level of free iron low, pathogenic bacteria are able to thrive by obtaining iron from their host via expression of outer membrane proteins that can bind to and remove iron from host proteins, including both serum transferrin and lactoferrin. Furthermore, even though human serum transferrin and lactoferrin are quite similar in sequence and structure, and coordinate iron in the same manner, they differ in their affinities for iron as well as their receptor binding properties: the human transferrin receptor only binds serum transferrin, and two distinct bacterial transport systems are used to capture iron from serum transferrin and lactoferrin. Comparison of the recently solved crystal structure of iron-free human serum transferrin to that of human lactoferrin provides insight into these differences.     

A highly catalytically active γ-carbonic anhydrase from the pathogenic anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis and its inhibition profile with anions and small molecules

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) belonging to the γ-class are present in archaea, bacteria and plants but, except the Methanosarcina thermophila enzymes CAM and CAMH, they were poorly characterized so far. Here we report a new such enzyme (PgiCA), the γ-CA from the oral cavity pathogenic bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, the main causative agent of periodontitis. PgiCA showed a good catalytic activity for the CO₂ hydration reaction, comparable to that of the human (h) isoform hCA I. Inorganic anions such as thiocyanate, cyanide, azide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfamate and trithiocarbonate were effective PgiCA inhibitors with inhibition constants in the range of 41–97 μM. Other effective inhibitors were diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfamide, and phenylboronic acid, with K_Is of 4.0–9.8 μM. The role of this enzyme as a possible virulence factor of P. gingivalis is poorly understood at the moment but its good catalytic activity and the possibility to be inhibited by a large number of compounds may lead to interesting developments in the field.     

New functions of lactoferrin and beta-casein in mammalian milk as cysteine protease inhibitors

We found new inhibitory function of lactoferrin and beta-casein in milk against cysteine proteases using reverse zymography. The inhibition of cathepsin L by lactoferrin was strongest and the inhibition kinetics were of a non-competitive type. Heat denatured lactoferrin lost the inhibitory activity completely, therefore the tertiary structure is essential to show the inhibition. Native lactoferrin was not degraded by papain during the assay condition. The intramolecular peptide, Y(679)-K(695), of lactoferrin is an active domain and the synthesized peptide inhibited cysteine proteases. The Y(679)-K(695) peptide showed 90% homology with the sequences of a common active site of cystatin family. beta-Casein and the active domain, synthesized L(133)-Q(151), peptide inhibited cysteine proteases. Lactoferrin and beta-casein in milk might play a role in antiseptic and antiinfectious functions due to cysteine protease inhibition of bacteria and viruses.     

健康青少年口腔优势菌对牙龈卟啉单胞菌拮抗作用的实验研究

目的分析健康青少年口腔优势菌（简称S．t2003）与牙龈卟啉单胞菌的相互关系。方法运用定量混合培养技术,以血链球菌标准株和变形链球菌作为对照。结果S．t2003与血链球菌标准株都对牙龈卟啉单胞菌有很强的抑制作用,但S．t2003的抑菌强度强于血链球菌的标准株;另外S．t2003和血链球菌标准株对牙龈卟啉单胞菌的抑制作用随其相对浓度的变化而改变,显示了S．t2003和血链球菌标准株与牙龈卟啉单胞菌的相互拮抗的关系。结论S．t2003对牙龈卟啉单胞菌具有较强的拮抗作用。     

高通量测序技术分析新疆新源县过度放牧土壤细菌多样性

【目的】利用新疆伊犁州新源县过度放牧导致的退化草原土壤样品,揭示其细菌的菌群多样性。【方法】通过Illumina Hi Seq 2500测序技术,分析6个退化草原土壤细菌的菌群结构及多样性。【结果】细菌群落Chao1指数平均值为2 118.28,Shannon指数平均值为8.84。细菌群落主要属于Actinobacteria、Proteobacteria、Firmicutes、Gemmatimonadetes等35个门,Phingomonadaceae、Gemmatimonadaceae等220个科,Sphingomonas、Rubrobacter等329个属,在科属水平上未知菌类分别占31%和56.1%。固氮细菌共有9个属,自生固氮菌中Arthrobacter和Methylobacterium的丰度最高,而根瘤菌中Bradyrhizobium和Rhizobacter的丰度较高。【结论】虽然6个退化草原土壤样品中细菌类群具有丰富的多样性,但很多种类丰度特别低,可能正趋向灭绝。     

Purification and partial characterization of a lysine-specific protease of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Abstract A lysine-specific protease hydrolysing peptide bonds at the carboxyl side of lysine residues in Porphyromonas gingivalis was purified from culture supernatant by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography. The molecular mass was 48 kDa and the p I value was 7.3. The enzyme hydrolysed the peptide bonds at the carboxyl side of lysine residues in synthetic substrates and natural proteins.     

COPD患者口腔和呼吸道内牙龈卟啉单胞菌、齿垢密螺旋体和福赛坦菌的同源性分析

目的分析慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者口腔和呼吸道内牙龈卟啉单胞菌(Pg)、齿垢密螺旋体(Td)和福赛坦菌(Tf)的同源性,探讨牙周炎与COPD之间的关系。方法收集53例急性加重期COPD患者,采集龈下菌斑及呼吸道分泌物,同时进行牙周指标的检查。通过16S r DNA序列分析,构建患者口腔及呼吸道内Pg、Td和Tf的系统进化树,进行同源性分析。结果 53例患者中,5例患者口腔和呼吸道内Pg具有同源性,6例患者Td具有同源性,3例患者Tf具有同源性。结论 COPD患者口腔和呼吸道内Pg、Td和Tf具有同源性,COPD患者呼吸道内的这3种病原体均来自于口腔。     

Antimicrobial properties of lactoferrin

Milk is a vital nutritional source for the offspring of all mammals, including humans. In addition to its nutritional value, it is a rich source of proteins including lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is a truly multifunctional protein that has been studied extensively over the past decades. It is best known for its ability to bind iron, which eventually led to the discovery of its antibacterial activity. In addition, lactoferrin has demonstrated potent antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic activity, towards a broad spectrum of species. It is also considered to be an important host defense molecule during infant development. In this review, we focus on the antimicrobial activities of lactoferrin with particular emphasis on antibacterial and antiviral activities, although its antifungal and -parasitic activity are also discussed.     

Immunological characterization and localization of a Porphyromonas gingivalis BApNA-hydrolyzing protease possessing hemagglutinating activity

Abstract A monoclonal antibody (mAb-PC) was produced against a BA p NA-hydrolyzing protease possessing hemagglutinating activity (Pase-C) from Porphyromonas gingivalis . Other P. gingivalis BA p NA-hydrolyzing enzymes (Pase-B and Pase-S) did not react with this antibody. By ELISA or SDS-PAGE and Western immunoblotting analysis, mAb-PC recognized all P. gingivalis and P. endodontalis strains tested but did not recognize other members of the Porphyromonas genus nor other putative periodontopathogenic organisms. Pase-C, extracellular vesicles (ECV) and human strains of P. gingivalis showed two major immunoreactive bands (44 kDa and 40 kDa), whereas a different pattern was obtained with animal strains of P. gingivalis . Biotinylarginyl chloromethane, an irreversible inhibitor of trypsin-like proteases, did not affect the reactivity of Pase-C with mAb-PC on immunoblot. By reversed-phase electronmicroscopy following immunogold labeling, the antibody was shown to bind to the cell surface of P. gingivalis . mAb-PC inhibited the hemagglutinating activity of both P. gingivalis cells and ECV whereas a monoclonal antibody against LPS of P. gingivalis did not. These results suggest that Pase-C is located on the cell surface of P. gingivalis and may participate in erythrocyte binding.     

Twenty-five years of research on bovine lactoferrin applications

Lactoferrin (LF) was identified as a milk protein in 1960. Large-scale manufacturing of bovine LF (bLF) was established more than 20 years ago. Using this commercially available material, research for bLF applications has advanced from basic studies to clinical studies, and bLF has been applied to commercial food products for the last 25 years. During this period, it was found that LF is digested by gastric pepsin to generate a multi-potent peptide, lactoferricin. It was also demonstrated that oral administration of bLF augments host protection against infections via antimicrobial action and immunomodulation of the host. In addition, researchers have demonstrated that oral administration of bLF prevents cancer development. In this review, we look back on 25 years of bLF research and development.