Energy metabolism in Capnocytophaga ochracea

Dysbiosis and Variation in Predicted Functions of the Granulation Tissue Microbiome in HPV Positive and Negative Severe Chronic Periodontitis

Retrospective analysis has already shown correlation between severe Chronic Periodontitis (CP) cases with human papiloma virus (HPV). Hence, we aimed to explore deep-seated infected granulation tissue removed during periodontal flap surgery procedures for residential bacterial species between HPV+ and HVP- CP cases, which may serve as good predisposition marker for oral cancer. All CP-granulation samples showed the prominence of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes phyla with an abundance of gram negative anaerobes, except Streptococcus. In Beta diversity nonmetric multidimensional scaling plot, the random distribution of species was observed between HPV+ and HPV- CP granulation-samples. However, an abundance of Capnocytophaga ochracea was observed in HPV+ CP samples (p<0.05), while Porphyromonas endodontalis, Macellibacteroides fermentas, Treponema phagedenis, and Campylobacter rectus species were highly abundant in HPV- CP samples (p<0.05). The differential species richness leads altered functions related to mismatch-repair and nucleotide excision-repair and cytoskeleton-proteins. Hence, differential abundance of gram negative bacterial species between HPV+ and HPV- granulation-samples under anaerobic conditions may release virulence factors which may alter pathways favouring carcinogenesis. Hence, these species may serve as good predisposition marker for oral-cancer.

Sodium fluoride susceptibilities of suspected periodontopathic bacteria

Utilizing a blood-based medium, we determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) to sodium fluoride (NaF) of 45 bacterial strains representing 22 oral species. Bacterial susceptibility ranged from 128 micrograms/ml to 2048 micrograms/ml. Of those organisms tested, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Capnocytophaga ochracea, and Actinomyces viscosus were susceptible at lower levels of NaF.

Ammonia utilization by a proposed bacterial pathogen in human periodontal disease, Capnocytophaga ochracea

Capnocytophaga ochracea strain 25 was originally isolated from a patient with severe juvenile periodontitis. An NAD-specific glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) (EC 1.4.1.2.) was found in cell-free extracts from this organism. The NADH-dependent reductive, or ammonia-assimilating activity (NADH-GDH), of the enzyme was 8-10-fold higher than its NAD-dependent oxidative, or ammonia-releasing activity (NAD-GDH), suggesting that the primary physiological role of the GDH is ammonia-fixing. Capnocytophaga ochracea GDH was purified approximately 39-fold by a rapid, single-step purification procedure using DEAE-cellulose (DE52) ion-exchange column chromatography which gave 90 per cent recovery of total enzyme units. Paper chromatography of an NADH-GDH assay mixture containing the partially purified enzyme showed that glutamate was, indeed, a product of the ammonia-assimilating reaction. The pH optimum for the NAD-GDH reaction was 9.0; that for the NADH-GDH reaction was 7.5. Although a number of mono- and divalent cations were tested, none had a large effect on either NAD-GDH or NADH-GDH activity. The NAD-GDH reaction showed a hyperbolic kinetic response to glutamate and NAD and the Km values for glutamate and NAD were 2.44 and 0.083 mM respectively. The kinetic response of the NADH-GDH reaction to NADH, alpha-ketoglutarate and ammonium chloride also obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and their respective Km values were 0.069, 1.44 and 3.33 mM. Of a number of biologically-active compounds tested for their ability to modulate GDH activity, only ADP and NAD exerted much effect. The NADH-GDH activity showed a negative hyperbolic kinetic response to both ADP and NAD and Dixon plot-analysis of the NAD and ADP saturation data gave Ki values for ADP and NAD of 4.0 and 0.46 mM respectively. Both NAD and ADP appeared to exert their negative effects on NADH-GDH activity by completely inhibiting the binding of the reduced coenzyme, NADH, to the enzyme.