Enhanced adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to hydroxyapatite after exposure to saliva

Streptococcus mutans cells form robust biofilms on human teeth and are strongly related to caries incidents. Hence, understanding the adhesion of S. mutans in the human oral cavity is of major interest for preventive dentistry. In this study, we report on atomic force microscopy–based single‐cell force spectroscopy measurements of S. mutans cells to hydroxyapatite surfaces. We observe for almost all measurements a significant difference in adhesion strength for S. mutans as well as for Staphylococcus carnosus cells. However, the increase in adhesion strength after saliva exposure is much higher for S. mutans cells compared to S. carnosus cells. Our results demonstrate that S. mutans cells are well adapted to their natural environment, the oral cavity. This ability promotes the biofilm‐forming capability of that species and hence the production of caries‐provoking acids. In consequence, understanding the fundamentals of this mechanism may pave a way towards more effective caries‐reducing techniques.     

天然药物对唾液链球菌生长与产酸影响的体外研究

目的：通过研究不同天然药物对唾液链球菌生长及产酸的影响,为今后筛选出能有效调理口腔菌群生态平衡的药物奠定基础,方法：选用唾液链球菌SS196作为实验菌株,测定川芎,血藤,五倍子等11种天然药物的最低抑菌浓度MIC,再以低于MIC的4个浓度梯度配制含药的TPY液体培养基,调定其初始pH为7．4,接种唾液链球菌,厌氧培养后测定其终末pH,结果：当药物浓度低于或等于8．00mg/ml时,除槟榔,蜂房,三七外,其他药物对唾液链球菌的生长都有一定的抑制作用,且以大黄,五倍子和黄芩较强,槟榔,茶多酚,大黄,蜂房,黄芩,三七,五倍子和儿茶对唾液链球菌的产酸具有一定的抑制能力,而白芷,川芎和血藤没有明显的抑制能力,结论：茶多酚,大黄,黄芩,五倍子和儿茶对唾液链球菌的生长和产酸都有一定的抑制作用。     

Incubation of Streptococcus uberis with extracellular matrix proteins enhances adherence to and internalization into bovine mammary epithelial cells

Two strains of Streptococcus uberis (UT 888 and UT 366) isolated from cows with clinical mastitis were co-cultured with bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) with and without laminin, fibrinogen, fibronectin or collagen. Incubation of S. uberis with extracellular matrix proteins (ECMPs) increased adherence to and internalization into MAC-T cells. Both strains of S. uberis exhibited greater adherence when co-cultured in the presence of collagen than with any other ECMP. However, adherence was always higher when strains were co-cultured with ECMP than in medium alone. S. uberis UT 888 adhered better to MAC-T cells than S. uberis UT 366. The influence of ECMPs on bacterial internalization into MAC-T cells was similar to adherence, however, differences among ECMPs were less noticeable. S. uberis UT 888 had a higher internalization index than S. uberis UT 366. It is possible that ECMPs induce or up-regulate proteins that selectively adhere to ECMPs which could serve as a bridge between the eukaryotic cell and the bacterial pathogen that leads to internalization of the ECMP-bound pathogen into the mammary epithelial cell.     

Anchoring of proteins to lactic acid bacteria

The anchoring of proteins to the cell surface of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) using genetic techniques is an exciting and emerging research area that holds great promise for a wide variety of biotechnological applications. This paper reviews five different types of anchoring domains that have been explored for their efficiency in attaching hybrid proteins to the cell membrane or cell wall of LAB. The most exploited anchoring regions are those with the LPXTG box that bind the proteins in a covalent way to the cell wall. In recent years, two new modes of cell wall protein anchoring have been studied and these may provide new approaches in surface display. The important progress that is being made with cell surface display of chimaeric proteins in the areas of vaccine development and enzyme- or whole-cell immobilisation is highlighted.     

可代谢半乳糖嗜热链球菌的诱变选育及其在发酵乳生产中的应用

【目的】嗜热链球菌(Streptococcus thermophilus)作为酸奶、奶酪等发酵乳制品的常用发酵剂,在乳品工业中应用广泛。大多数嗜热链球菌为半乳糖阴性(Gal^-)菌株,不能代谢半乳糖而将其排出到胞外,导致发酵乳中半乳糖含量增加。因此可通过化学诱变的方法处理嗜热链球菌,使其可代谢半乳糖,开发一种低半乳糖含量的发酵乳。【方法】利用亚硝基胍(nitrosoguanidine, NTG)对嗜热链球菌IMAU80846进行诱变处理,测定野生株嗜热链球菌IMAU80846与突变株β-半乳糖苷酶(β-galactosidase,β-Gal)、半乳糖激酶(galactokinase, GalK)、丙酮酸激酶(pyruvate kinase, PK)和葡萄糖激酶(glucokinase, GK)活性,分析编码这些酶的氨基酸序列,得到一株可代谢半乳糖的嗜热链球菌IMAU80846Y,同时对突变株进行全基因组测序,并检测野生株和突变株发酵乳中乳酸、乳糖、半乳糖和葡萄糖的含量,最后将野生株和突变株分别与德氏乳杆菌保加利亚亚种IMAU20450进行复配发酵,测定两组发酵乳在发酵与贮藏期间的发酵特性,制备一款低半乳糖含量的发酵乳。【结果】突变株嗜热链球菌IMAU80846Y的β-Gal、GalK活性高于野生株,PK和GK活性低于野生株,氨基酸序列与全基因组测序结果表明突变株与糖代谢有关基因发生突变,HPLC检测结果表明突变株发酵乳中乳糖、半乳糖的含量均低于野生株,而乳酸、葡萄糖的含量高于野生株。发酵特性的分析结果表明,与野生株复配组相比,突变株复配组发酵乳具有良好的滴定酸度、活菌数、黏度以及持水力。【结论】嗜热链球菌IMAU80846经NTG诱变后,菌株代谢半乳糖的能力发生了变化,利用该突变株可生产一款低半乳糖含量的发酵乳。     

The sgp gene modulates stress responses of Streptococcus mutans: utilization of an antisense RNA strategy to investigate essential gene functions

The sgp gene from Streptococcus mutans has been previously isolated, characterized, and demonstrated to encode a G-protein. In order to investigate the function of this gene, a novel antisense RNA strategy was developed. Expression of sgp antisense RNA in Escherichia coli led to transient inhibition of growth. In addition, sgp antisense RNA expression in S. mutans resulted in decreased growth under environmental stress conditions (44°C, acidic pH, and high osmolarity). Therefore, these results suggest that the sgp gene plays a role in modulating the stress responses of S. mutans. This approach could be applicable for investigating the function of essential genes in other organisms for which mutants are not available.     

Human transferrin as a source of iron for Streptococcus intermedius

Streptococcus intermedius is well known to produce severe infections in various areas of the body. In this study, we evaluated the ability of S. intermedius to utilise human transferrin as a source of iron and investigated the mechanism by which iron can be obtained from this plasma protein. Adding either ferrous sulfate or holotransferrin to an iron-deficient culture medium allowed growth of S. intermedius. Cultivation of S. intermedius under an iron-poor condition was associated with the over expression of a 58 kDa cell surface protein. Neither siderophore activity nor reductase activity could be detected. Moreover, cells of S. intermedius did not show transferrin-binding activity or proteolytic activity toward transferrin. It was found that S. intermedius could rapidly decrease the pH of the medium during cell growth, resulting in a release of iron from holotransferrin. When the buffering capacity of the culture medium was significantly increased, the holotransferrin could not support growth of S. intermedius. It is suggested that under certain circumstances, S. intermedius may migrate from its normal niche (oral cavity), reach a particular site and create a localised environment where the pH can be lowered with the subsequent release of iron from transferrin. This would allow bacterial growth and initiation of the infectious process.     

Binding of complement subcomponent C1q to Streptococcus pyogenes: evidence for interactions with the M5 and FcRA76 proteins

Binding of C1q, the first component of the complement system, to some human pathogens has been earlier reported. In the present study, direct binding of C1q to group A streptococci (GAS) of various serotypes as well as some other Gram-positive and Gram-negative species was demonstrated. The interaction between C1q and GAS was investigated more in detail. In hot neutral extracts of a number of GAS strains two components of 64 and 52 kDa, respectively, bound C1q; alkaline and SDS extracts yielded the 52 kDa component as the main C1q-binding substance. Trypsin treatment of the SDS extracts of two GAS strains suggested the C1q-binding component(s) to be of protein nature. C1q-binding material purified from the SDS extract of an avirulent strain, type T27, was separated in 12% SDS-PAGE and probed in Western blot with human C1q and fibrinogen, conjugated to horse radish peroxidase (HRP) as well as rabbit IgG antibodies complexed to HRP (PAP system). The 52 kDa component was non-reactive with fibrinogen or rabbit IgG. However, C1q-binding components purified from the alkaline extracts of two M-positive strains revealed strong binding of either fibrinogen (type M5) or both fibrinogen and rabbit IgG (type M76); the molecular mass of these components, 55 kDa and 43–40 kDa, respectively, was in agreement with the reported molecular mass of the M5 and FcRA76 proteins. Our findings suggest that C1q may interact with GAS through certain M-family proteins as well as by a so far unidentified surface factor of protein nature occurring in most GAS strains. The involvement of M-family proteins, regarded as virulence factors of these organisms, may suggest the interaction of GAS with C1q as biologically important.     

The N-terminal half part of the oral streptococcal antigen I/IIf contains two distinct binding domains

In order to investigate the binding properties of the antigen I/IIf from Streptococcus mutans, we analyzed the binding activity of five I/IIf derivatives expressed by I/IIf gene derivatives obtained by insertion of a kanamycin resistance marker. ELISA-derived binding assays showed that the derivatives containing both the N-terminal alanine-rich domain (A-region) and an A-region distal domain extending to amino-acid 766 were the most effective in binding biotinylated (Biot-) human salivary components (SAC) and Biot-epithelial cell membrane components. Sodium metaperiodate treatment of SAC inhibited these interactions, suggesting a binding specificity of the A-region distal domain for carbohydrate residues. All the I/IIf derivatives were found to bind Biot-type I collagen, Biot-laminin, Biot-keratin, and Biot-fibronectin, the derivatives containing the A-region but lacking the A-region distal domain exhibiting the highest binding levels. Sodium metaperiodate treatment of laminin had no effect on its binding to the derivatives, suggesting that carbohydrate residues of the ligand were not involved.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of 16S rDNA and of whole rRNA genes (ribotyping) of Streptococcus iniae strains from the United States and Israel

Streptococcus iniae (junior synonym S. shiloi) isolated from tilapia and trout in Israel and in the United States were subtyped by restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) based on PCR amplified 16S rDNA and by ribotyping. 16S rDNA RFLP discriminated between S. iniae and other fish pathogens but not between S. iniae strains. HindIII and EcoRI ribotypes of S. iniae discriminated American from Israeli strains rejecting the possibility of an epidemiological link between S. iniae infections in the two countries. Israeli strains isolated from tilapia and trout could not be completely differentiated. The S. iniae ATCC 29178^T (T=Type strain) strain, isolated from a freshwater dolphin belonged to a ribotype different from those of all the fish isolates.