Identification of bistable populations of Porphyromonas gingivalis that differ in epithelial cell invasion.
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ABSTRACT: Bistable populations of bacteria give rise to two or more subtypes that exhibit different phenotypes. We have explored whether the periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, exhibits bistable invasive phenotypes. Using a modified cell invasion assay, we show for the first time that there are two distinct sub-types within a population of P.ginigivalis strains NCTC 11834 and W50 that display differences in their ability to invade oral epithelial cells. The highly-invasive sub-types invade cells at 10-30 fold higher levels than the poorly-invasive subtype and remain highly invasive for approximately 12-16 generations. Analysis of the gingipain activity of these sub-types revealed that the highly invasive type had reduced cell-associated arginine specific protease activity. The role of arg-gingipain activity in invasion was verified by enhancement of invasion by rgpAB mutations and by inclusion of an arg-gingipain inhibitor in invasion assays using wild-type bacteria. In addition a population of DeltargpAB bacteria did not contain a hyperinvasive sub-type. Screening of the protease activity of wild-type populations of both strains identified high and low protease sub-types which also showed the corresponding reduction or enhancement of invasive capabilities. Microarray analysis of these bistable populations revealed a putative signature set of genes that include oxidative stress resistance and iron transport genes that might be key to invasion of or survival within epithelial cells.
ORGANISM(S): Porphyromonas gingivalis
PROVIDER: GSE23021 | GEO | 2010/08/31
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA131489
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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