Analysis of a primer-independent GTF-I from Streptococcus salivarius

A glucosyltransferase (GTF) gene, designated gtfL, from Streptococcus salivarius was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and its nucleotide sequence determined. The GTF-L enzyme catalysed the synthesis of water-insoluble glucan in a primer-independent manner. The nucleotide sequence and derived amino acid sequence of GTF-L were similar in size and domain structure to previously sequenced glucosyltransferases. However, a 464-bp region of high variability was identified which could be selectively amplified from strains of S. salivarius by the polymerase chain reaction and could therefore form the basis for species identification. No sequence-specific motifs related to the solubility and linkage of the glucan product or its need for a dextran primer could be ascertained.

Identification and characterisation of two extracellular proteases of Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans was shown to produce two extracellular proteases capable of degrading both gelatin and collagen-like substrates. These enzymes have molecular masses of 52 and 50 kDa when analysed by SDS-PAGE. Both enzymes were inhibited by EDTA, but not by a range of other inhibitors with different specificities, indicating that they are metalloproteases. The activity of EDTA-inactivated enzymes could be restored by the addition of manganese and zinc. The identical inhibition and restoration profiles of the two enzymes suggest that one of the proteases may be a degradation product of the other.

Incorporation of bacterial inhibitor into resin composite

Attempts to produce resin composite with antibacterial properties by incorporation of an antibacterial agent such as chlorhexidine have been reported, but problems can arise due to release of the inhibitory agent from the composite. Such problems may include toxic effects, influence on mechanical properties, and loss of effectiveness. A new monomer, methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide (MDPB), was synthesized by combining an antibacterial agent and methacryloyl group. The monomer was incorporated into resin composite to develop a non-releasing antibacterial composite. The ability of composite incorporating MDPB to inhibit growth and plaque accumulation by Streptococcus mutans in vitro was assayed, elution of antibacterial components from the material was investigated, and the influence of incorporation of MDPB on the mechanical properties of composite was studied. Uncured MDPB revealed antibacterial activity against S. mutans and six other species of oral streptococci, with the minimum inhibitory concentration for S. mutans being comparable with that of triclosan. After composite incorporating MDPB was cured, no elution of the antibacterial components was observed from the material, even after 90 days' immersion in water or other solvents. Growth of S. mutans on agar under specimens of MDPB-containing composite was inhibited compared with controls. In a bacterial accumulation study, S. mutans accumulated to a lesser degree on the surface of composite incorporating MDPB (p < 0.05) than on control. Incorporation of MDPB had no significant influence on the mechanical properties of the composite.

Control of specific plaque bacteria

The Specific Plaque Hypothesis posits that particular bacteria are of unique importance in the etiology of dental caries and periodontal diseases, and a logical conclusion is that these bacteria should be the targets for our 'magic bullets' in devising plaque-control methods. This paper considers the development of preventive measures based on understanding of the significance of particular bacterial species and the properties of those bacteria. Knowledge of the importance of specific organisms as mediators of disease and molecular studies on the properties of potential virulence factors may reveal potential targets for inhibition, blocking by synthetic analogues, or functional inactivation by antibodies.

The application of molecular genetics to the microbiology of dental caries

The introduction of techniques for the manipulation of DNA in vitro has had an enormous impact on progress in every area of biological research. In the case of oral microbiology, the first reports on the application of molecular genetics to streptococci started to appear in the early 1980s, and it is now more than 10 years since the first paper describing cloning and expression of a gene from Streptococcus mutans in another bacterium was published. The purpose of this review is not to provide a resumé of all the work that has been done on the molecular biology of oral bacteria; indeed, we are approaching the stage when a comprehensive survey of work on all oral bacteria is no longer feasible--for instance, over 40 genes have now been cloned and sequenced from S. mutans alone--but rather to illustrate examples of how the new techniques have been applied to give novel approaches and insights into old problems, or expand into new directions. The great majority of published work so far relates to streptococci, and many aspects have been covered in previous review articles [Curtiss, 1985; Russell, 1991], the most recent thorough review being that by Kuramitsu [1993]. Discussion of molecular biology is now so all-pervasive that most readers will be familiar with many of the basic terms, but it may be worth clarifying some of the main points during the course of this article. For total novices, the short book by Brown [1990] forms a useful introduction. A number of recent articles have reviewed recent research on plaque formation [Kolenbrander and London, 1993] and the mutans streptococci in particular [Loesche, 1986], while Freedman et al. [1981] and Tanzer [1992] have summarised the information derived from a genetic approach to oral microbiology before the advent on in vitro manipulation of DNA.

Transport of sugars, including sucrose, by the msm transport system of Streptococcus mutans

The range of substrates transported by the sugar-binding protein-dependent msm (multiple sugar metabolism) system of S. mutans was investigated. By determining the ability of unlabeled sugar to compete with radiolabeled melibiose transport, we have demonstrated that the transported sugars included a number of carbohydrates structurally related to raffinose. A model accommodating these results has been devised which accounts for the sugars transported by the msm transport system. Competition with radiolabeled melibiose transport indicated sucrose to be an msm substrate. This was confirmed by examination of uptake of radiolabeled sucrose in scrAB mutants lacking the sucrose-specific phosphotransferase system.

Metabolism of polysaccharides by the Streptococcus mutants dexB gene product

The Streptococcus mutans dexB gene, a member of the multiple sugar metabolism (msm) operon, encodes an intracellular glucan 1,6-alpha-glucosidase which releases glucose from the non-reducing terminus of alpha-1,6-linked isomaltosaccharides and dextran. Comparison of primary amino acid sequences showed strong homology to Bacillus oligo-1,6-glucosidases and, like these enzymes, DexB was able to release free glucose from the alpha-1,4,6-branch point in panose. This suggested a role for DexB in the metabolism of either starch or intracellular polysaccharide, which contain such branch points. However, purified intracellular polysaccharide from the wild-type S. mutans strain LT11 and a mutant deficient in dexB revealed no substantial differences in the extent of branching as demonstrated by iodine staining spectra and the degree of polymerization. Furthermore, thin layer chromatography of radiolabelled intracellular polysaccharide digested with S. mutans wild-type and mutant cell extracts showed no differences in the products obtained. The involvement of DexB in dietary starch metabolism was investigated using alpha-limit dextrins produced from the action of alpha-amylase on starch. These induced the msm operon, including dexB, and the DexB enzyme was able to act on the alpha-limit dextrins to give further fermentable substrates. The transport system encoded by the msm operon can also transport alpha-limit dextrin. DexB may therefore be important in the metabolism of extracellular starch.

Multiple changes in cell wall antigens of isogenic mutants of Streptococcus mutans

Isogenic mutants of Streptococcus mutans LT11, deficient in the production of the wall-associated protein antigens A and B, were generated by recombinant DNA technology. The hydrophobicity, adherence, and aggregation of the mutants were compared with those of the parent strain. These studies indicated that hydrophobicity, adherence, and saliva- or sucrose-induced aggregation were unaltered in the A- mutant but that hydrophobicity and adherence to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite were greatly reduced in the B- mutant whilst sucrose-dependent adherence and aggregation were increased. To determine whether these changes correlated with changes in the mutated gene product alone, the levels of a number of cell wall antigens were determined in each of the mutants. The loss of antigen A resulted in significantly reduced levels of wall-associated lipoteichoic acid, and loss of antigen B resulted in reductions in both antigen A and lipoteichoic acid. Data presented here thus suggest that changes in the expression of one wall antigen can have a dramatic effect on the levels of others.

Comparison of helium dilution and nitrogen washout measurements of functional residual capacity in premature infants

Comparison has been made of measurements of functional residue capacity (FRC) by a helium gas dilution (He) and a nitrogen washout (N2) technique. Twenty infants (median gestational age, 29.5 weeks) were studied at a median postnatal age of 25 days. No infant was oxygen dependent. The coefficient of repeatability of FRC (He) was 6.4 mL/kg and of FRC (N2), 6.3 mL/kg. The coefficient of repeatability of the two methods combined was 13.8 mL/kg. In 10 infants the results of two techniques differed by more than 20% of the mean FRC; those infants were born at a significantly earlier gestation than the rest of the cohort (P < 0.01). We conclude that, except in very immature infants, techniques for measuring FRC (He) and FRC (N2) yield reproducible and comparable results in convalescent premature infants.

The isolation and characterization of milleri group streptococci from dental periapical abscesses

Reports of the isolation of streptococci from dental abscesses have shown an association of the "S. milleri" group with such lesions. There has been considerable confusion regarding the taxonomy of these organisms, but the milleri group has recently been reclassified into three distinct species: Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus constellatus, and Streptococcus intermedius. In this study, 45 samples from dental periapical abscesses were examined. Milleri group streptococci were isolated from 16 patients (37%), 15 being identified as S. anginosus and one as S. intermedius. In one patient, S. anginosus was isolated in pure culture, and it would appear that this is the predominant species of milleri group streptococci associated with periapical abscesses.

Expression of gtfS is essential for normal insoluble glucan synthesis by Streptococcus downei

The gtfI and gtfS genes of Streptococcus downei were investigated to determine the contribution of the respective enzymes to glucan production in the presence and absence of other glucosyltransferases. Extracts of Escherichia coli expressing cloned gtfS produced a short linear dextran from sucrose which could act as a primer for insoluble glucan synthesis when mixed with extracts of a strain expressing recombinant gtfI. To elucidate the contribution of gtfS to glucan production by S. downei, a mutant was constructed by insertionally inactivating gtfS. S. downei (gtfS mutant) colonies exhibited a marked phenotypic change on sucrose-containing media and a decreased ability to adhere to glass and produced no detectable water-insoluble glucan. These experiments confirm that expression of gtfS is essential for normal insoluble glucan synthesis by S. downei.

Cloning and expression of the multiple sugar metabolism (msm) operon of Streptococcus mutans in heterologous streptococcal hosts

The multiple sugar metabolism (msm) operon of Streptococcus mutans is responsible for the uptake and metabolism of a variety of sugars. In order to further characterize the substrate specificities of the transport system, a 12-kb region of DNA containing the entire msm operon was cloned, via a novel two-step integration strategy, into the chromosomes of two heterologous streptococcal strains, Streptococcus gordonii Challis and Streptococcus anginosus Is57, as well as the chromosome of a natural isolate of S. mutans with a deletion of the msm region. These strains are unable to transport or ferment melibiose, raffinose, or isomaltosaccharides, but the newly constructed recombinants gained the ability to ferment all of these sugars. The S. gordonii Challis construct containing msm was shown to transport radiolabelled melibiose, raffinose, isomaltotriose, and isomaltotetraose, and the transport function was also subjected to induction by raffinose, an inducer of the msm operon in S. mutans. The results confirm the role of the msm operon in the transport and metabolism of melibiose, raffinose, and isomaltosaccharides.

MsmE, a lipoprotein involved in sugar transport in Streptococcus mutans

Metabolic labelling by [14C]palmitic acid showed that growth of Streptococcus mutans LT11 in raffinose, an inducer of the msm operon, resulted in increased production of a 45-kDa lipoprotein corresponding to MsmE, which is believed to be a sugar-binding protein. MsmE was also labelled when an msmE clone was expressed in Escherichia coli. The presence of a lipid anchor on MsmE provides a likely explanation of how the sugar-binding protein component of the msm binding protein-dependent multiple sugar transport system is retained at the cell surface.

Identification of Streptococcus mutans antigen D as the HPr component of the sugar-phosphotransferase transport system

Extraction of Streptococcus mutans with the detergents HECAMEG and lauroyl sarcosinate preferentially extracted antigen D, previously identified as a low molecular mass wall-associated protein. Western blotting with specific antisera was used to demonstrate that this antigen is the HPr component of the sugar-phosphotransferase transport system. Non-denaturing electrophoresis indicated that HECAMEG selectively extracted only one of the two forms of HPr. It is suggested that this form of HPr may have a specific cell surface location.

Compartmentation of hexokinase in rat heart. A critical factor for tracer kinetic analysis of myocardial glucose metabolism

Radiolabeled analogues of 2-deoxyglucose are widely used to trace glucose metabolism in cell cultures, whole organs, and intact animals, although kinetic differences in transport and phosphorylation between these compounds and glucose exist. The present studies were undertaken to determine the effects of insulin stimulation on the phosphorylation of 2-deoxyglucose compared to glucose in the intact, saline-perfused working rat heart. Rates of glucose utilization determined from tritiated glucose differed from rates estimated from the accumulation of [14C]2-deoxyglucose in a nonconstant manner when comparing rates in the absence or presence of physiologic levels of insulin (13 microU/ml). The fraction of monophosphorylated hexoses that was accounted for by [14C]2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate was dramatically decreased in hearts perfused in the presence of insulin. Additionally, hexokinase activity associated with the mitochondrial fraction of tissue extracts was increased in hearts stimulated by insulin. While this redistribution of hexokinase to the mitochondria did not affect the apparent affinity constant for glucose, hexokinase bound to mitochondria exhibited an 8.5-fold decrease in the affinity for 2-deoxyglucose when compared with hexokinase present in the cytosolic fraction. The findings are consistent with an insulin-mediated preferential uptake and phosphorylation of glucose compared to deoxyglucose. The results also imply that the redistribution of hexokinase and the differential effect of insulin on its affinity for tracer and tracee are responsible for changes in the "lumped constant" (i.e., the correction factor used to equate 2-deoxyglucose to glucose uptake). These changes must be taken into account when regional myocardial glucose metabolism is assessed by the 2-deoxyglucose method.

Fasting and lactate unmask insulin responsiveness in the isolated working rat heart

We have previously reported that the nutritional state in vivo results in differential insulin responses by the perfused heart in vitro. To further assess the effects of insulin on glucose uptake at physiological work loads, hearts from fed and fasted (16-20 h) rats were perfused with buffer containing 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-FDG) and glucose (10 mM) alone or plus lactate (10 mM) as a competing substrate, with insulin (10 mU/ml) added after a control period. When glucose was the only substrate, the addition of insulin decreased the fractional rate of 2-FDG uptake in hearts from either fed or fasted rats. The effect of insulin on increasing myocardial 2-FDG uptake was immediate and sustained only in hearts from fasted rats in the presence of lactate, despite no change in cardiac work. At the same time, the increase in 2-FDG uptake and phosphorylation was associated with an increase in the tissue content of glycogen in hearts from fasted rats. We conclude that lactate unmasks insulin sensitivity in heart muscle at physiological work loads but that this unmasking of insulin-mediated glucose uptake is dependent on the nutritional state of the animal. The glucose up as a result of insulin stimulation is preferentially utilized for glycogen repletion and does not enter the glycolytic pathway. This observation also suggests that myocardial glycogen synthesis in vitro is affected by the nutritional state in vivo and that lactate provides a substrate for oxidative phosphorylation while glucose is preferentially utilized for glycogen synthesis.

Bacteriology of periodontal disease

The microbial flora associated with the periodontal tissues in health and disease is extremely complex, and much research is being directed toward identifying those species that may be etiologic agents or that can be used as prognostic indicators. Recent work has resulted in changes in the taxonomic position of several periodontal species and the recognition that several others, particularly species of Eubacterium and Peptostreptococcus, as well as a novel oral spirochete, may be important in disease. New rapid techniques for identifying and enumerating the periodontal flora are being applied to cross-sectional and longitudinal studies to assess the significance of the various species; the DNA probe and immunologic detection methods demonstrate both advantages and limitations when compared with methods based on determining the predominant cultivable flora.

A binding protein-dependent transport system in Streptococcus mutans responsible for multiple sugar metabolism

An 11-kilobase gene region of Streptococcus mutans has been identified which contains eight contiguous genes involved with the uptake and metabolism of multiple sugars (the msm system). Sequence analysis of this region indicates that several of these genes specify proteins with strong homology to components of periplasmic binding protein-dependent transport systems of Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, this operon is controlled by a regulatory gene (msmR) that acts as a positive effector. The proteins specified by the structural genes of the msm operon include alpha-galactosidase (aga), a "periplasmic-like" sugar-binding protein (msmE), two membrane proteins (msmF, msmG), sucrose phosphorylase (gtfA), an ATP-binding protein (msmK), and dextran glucosidase (dexB). Insertional inactivation of each of these genes along with uptake data indicate that this system is responsible for the uptake of melibiose, raffinose, and isomaltotriose and the metabolism of melibiose, sucrose, and isomaltosaccharides.

Coenzyme A sequestration in rat hearts oxidizing ketone bodies

Previous studies have indicated that ketone body-mediated contractile failure in rat hearts is due to inhibition of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, and it has been speculated that this inhibition is due to the sequestration of intramitochondrial CoA as acetoacetyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA. These studies were performed to determine whether oxidation of acetoacetate by isolated rat heart mitochondria results in a fall in intramitochondrial nonesterified CoA [CoASH] and whether increasing the available CoA improves contractile performance in hearts oxidizing acetoacetate. The oxidation of acetoacetate by isolated rat heart mitochondria resulted in depressed state 3 respiration as well as in a decrease in [CoASH]. Increasing the tissue content of CoASH in perfused hearts by providing the precursors for CoA relieved inhibition of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and improved the contractile performance of isolated working hearts. In contrast, the addition of carnitine increased the tissue content of CoASH but did not improve function. These findings suggest the presence of two different pools of CoASH. We conclude that ketone body-mediated inhibition of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase is due to decreased intramitochondrial CoASH and that this inhibition of the citric acid cycle is a plausible mechanism for concomitant contractile failure.

Pyruvate carboxylation prevents the decline in contractile function of rat hearts oxidizing acetoacetate

Acetoacetate, when present as the only fuel for respiration in rat hearts, causes an impairment in contractile function that is reversible with the addition of substrates that can contribute to anaplerosis. To determine the importance of pyruvate carboxylation via NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme on metabolism and function in hearts oxidizing acetoacetate, isolated working rat hearts were perfused with [1-14C]pyruvate and acetoacetate. While the cardiac power output after 60 min of perfusion in hearts utilizing acetoacetate alone had fallen to 44% of the initial value, the addition of pyruvate resulted in a stable performance with no fall in the work output. When hydroxymalonate, an inhibitor of NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme and malate dehydrogenase, was added to the two substrates, function at 60 min was similar to the value for hearts oxidizing acetoacetate alone. Measurements of the specific activities of malate, aspartate, and citrate confirm inhibition of both pyruvate carboxylation and malate oxidation. The findings are consistent with a mechanism in which the enrichment of malate by pyruvate improves function by increasing the production of reducing equivalents by the malate dehydrogenase and the isocitrate dehydrogenase reactions increase flux through the span of the tricarboxylic acid cycle from malate to 2-oxoglutarate. The present study demonstrates the physiological importance of anaplerotic pathways in maintaining contractile function in the heart.

Chromosomal deletions in melibiose-negative isolates of Streptococcus mutans

Isolates from a collection of phenotypically melibiose-negative (Mel-) Streptococcus mutans from widely-scattered geographical locations were examined and found to lack the activities of the enzymes alpha-galactosidase and alpha-glucosidase, in addition to being unable to transport melibiose. Cloned fragments of S. mutans DNA from the region of the chromosome carrying the genes for alpha-galactosidase (aga), sucrose phosphorylase (gtfA), and dextran glucosidase (dexB), as well as the genes encoding components of the binding-protein-dependent uptake system for raffinose and melibiose, were used in hybridization studies for investigation of the genetic basis of the Mel-phenotype. A region of at least 12 kilobases, containing all the above genes, was found to be deleted from the chromosome of the Mel- strains. It appears that this region of the chromosome is not essential for survival of S. mutants in the oral cavity. The reason for the frequent occurrence of deletions, as opposed to other forms of mutational events, is unknown.

Cloning and expression of protease genes from Treponema denticola in Escherichia coli

A gene bank of random fragments of chromosomal DNA from Treponema denticola ATCC 33520 was constructed in the bacteriophage vector lambda L47.1. The gene bank was plated on Escherichia coli C600 and screened for the presence of plaques in which enzyme activity was expressed, using overlays of fluorogenic synthetic substrates and a two-step procedure in which immunological screening was followed by enzyme assays of immunopositive lysates. Recombinants expressing trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like and proline iminopeptidase activities were found. The gene for the trypsin-like activity was subcloned into plasmid pJDC9 and maintained in E. coli.

Antigenic cross-reactivity and functional inhibition by antibodies to Clostridium difficile toxin A, Streptococcus mutans glucan-binding protein, and a synthetic peptide

A 10-amino-acid repeating sequence of the hemagglutinating portion of Clostridium difficile toxin A has been synthesized and used to produce antisera in rabbits. Antipeptide antibody inhibited toxin A-mediated hemagglutination and neutralized cytotoxic activity. Immunoblot analysis with the antipeptide antibody revealed cross-reactivity with native toxin, a recombinant protein containing the toxin A repeats, and a glucan-binding protein from Streptococcus mutans whose primary structure has repeating amino acid motifs similar to those of the synthetic peptide. A polyclonal antibody against the glucan-binding protein, which cross-reacted with purified toxin A, also inhibited toxin A-mediated hemagglutination and neutralized cytotoxic activity. We recently identified toxin A and the glucan-binding protein as members of a novel family of clostridial and streptococcal binding proteins based on conserved repeating amino acid motifs at the C-terminal region of the molecules. This study provides immunological and functional evidence of the predicted relationship between toxin A and the glucan-binding protein and further implicates the repeating subunits as ligand-binding domains in this family of proteins.