Project description:Actinomyces spp., predominant members of human oral biofilms, may use extracellular sialidase to promote adhesion, deglycosylate immunoglobulins and liberation of nutrients. Partial nanH gene sequences (1,077 bp) from Actinomyces oris (n=74), Actinomyces naeslundii (n=30), Actinomyces viscosus (n=1) and Actinomyces johnsonii (n=2) which included the active-site region and the bacterial neuraminidase repeats (BNRs) were compared. The sequences were aligned and each species formed a distinct cluster with five isolates having intermediate positions. These five isolates (two A. oris and three A. naeslundii) exhibited interspecies recombination. The nonsynonymous/synonymous ratio was <1 for both A. oris and A. naeslundii indicating that nanH in both species is under stabilizing selective pressure; nonsynonymous mutations are not selected. However, for A. oris significant negative values in tests for neutral selection suggested the rate of mutation in A. oris was greater than in A. naeslundii but with selection against nonsynonymous mutations. This was supported by the observation that the frequency of polymorphic sites in A. oris, which were monomorphic in A. naeslundii was significantly greater than the frequency of polymorphic sites in A. naeslundii which were monomorphic in A. oris (chi(2)=7.011; P=0.00081). The higher proportions of A. oris in the oral biofilm might be explained by the higher mutation rate facilitating an increased ability to respond successfully to environmental stress.
Project description:Oral streptococci, including Streptococcus gordonii, and Actinomyces naeslundii, are consistently found to be the most abundant bacteria in the early stages of dental plaque accumulation. These organisms interact physically (coaggregate) in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that coaggregation between S. gordonii and A. naeslundii leads to changes in gene expression in the partner organisms. Furthermore, we predicted that coaggregation-induced changes in phenotype contribute to the success of streptococci and actinomyces in dental plaque. To assess the responses of S. gordonii to coaggregation with A. naeslundii, RNA was extracted from S. gordonii cells 3 h after inducing coaggregation with A. naeslundii or from equivalent S. gordonii monocultures. The two RNA populations were reverse transcribed and compared by competitive hybridization with an S. gordonii genomic microarray. The most striking feature of the response to coaggregation was a profound change in expression of S. gordonii genes involved in arginine biosynthesis and transport. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that coaggregation with A. naeslundii stabilizes arginine biosynthesis in S. gordonii and enables growth under low-arginine conditions, such as those present in human saliva. Keywords: Cell-cell interaction
Project description:Actinomyces naeslundii is an important early colonizer in the oral biofilm and consists of three genospecies (1, 2 and WVA 963) which cannot be readily differentiated using conventional phenotypic testing or on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We have investigated a representative collection of type and reference strains and clinical and oral isolates (n=115) and determined the partial gene sequences of six housekeeping genes (atpA, rpoB, pgi, metG, gltA and gyrA). These sequences identified the three genospecies and differentiated them from Actinomyces viscosus isolated from rodents. The partial sequences of atpA and metG gave best separation of the three genospecies. A. naeslundii genospecies 1 and 2 formed two distinct clusters, well separated from both genospecies WVA 963 and A. viscosus. Analysis of the same genes in other oral Actinomyces species (Actinomyces gerencseriae, A. israelii, A. meyeri, A. odontolyticus and A. georgiae) indicated that, when sequence data were obtained, these species each exhibited <90 % similarity with the A. naeslundii genospecies. Based on these data, we propose the name Actinomyces oris sp. nov. (type strain ATCC 27044(T) =CCUG 34288(T)) for A. naeslundii genospecies 2 and Actinomyces johnsonii sp. nov. (type strain ATCC 49338(T) =CCUG 34287(T)) for A. naeslundii genospecies WVA 963. A. naeslundii genospecies 1 should remain as A. naeslundii sensu stricto, with the type strain ATCC 12104(T) =NCTC 10301(T) =CCUG 2238(T).
Project description:The hydrolysis of urea by ureases of oral bacteria in dental plaque can cause a considerable increase in plaque pH, which can inhibit the development of dental caries. There is also indirect evidence that urea metabolism may promote the formation of calculus and that ammonia release from urea could exacerbate periodontal diseases. Actinomyces naeslundii, an early colonizer of the oral cavity and a numerically significant plaque constituent, demonstrates comparatively low levels of urease activity on isolation, so this organism has not been considered a major contributor to total oral urease activity. In this study it was observed that urease activity and urease-specific mRNA levels in A. naeslundii WVU45 can increase up to 50-fold during growth under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Using primer extension analysis, a putative, proximal, nitrogen-regulated promoter of the A. naeslundii urease gene cluster was identified. The functionality and nitrogen responsiveness of this promoter were confirmed using reporter gene fusions and 5' deletion analysis. The data indicated that regulation of urease expression by nitrogen availability in A. naeslundii may require a positive transcriptional activator. Plaque bacteria may experience nitrogen limitation when carbohydrates are present in excess. Therefore, based on the results of this study and in contrast to previous beliefs, strains of A. naeslundii may have the potential to be significant contributors to total plaque ureolysis, particularly during periods when there is an increased risk for caries development.
Project description:Ammonia production from urea by ureolytic oral bacteria is believed to have a significant impact on oral health and the ecological balance of oral microbial populations. In this study we cloned and characterized the urease gene cluster of Actinomyces naeslundii, which is one of the pioneer organisms in the oral cavity and a significant constituent of supragingival and subgingival dental plaque in children and adults. An internal fragment of the ureC gene of A. naeslundii WVU45 was initially amplified by PCR with degenerate primers derived from conserved amino acid sequences of the large catalytic subunit of urease in bacteria and plants. The PCR product was then used as a probe to identify recombinant bacteriophages carrying the A. naeslundii urease gene cluster and roughly 30 kbp of flanking DNA. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrated that the gene cluster was comprised of seven contiguously arranged open reading frames with significant homologies at the protein and nucleotide sequence levels to the ureABCEFGD genes from other organisms. By using primer extension, a putative transcription initiation site was mapped at 66 bases 5' to the start codon of ureA. A urease-deficient strain was constructed by insertion of a kanamycin resistance determinant within the ureC gene via allelic replacement. In contrast to the wild-type organism, the isogenic mutant was unable to grow in a semidefined medium supplemented with urea as the nitrogen source and was not protected by the addition of urea against killing in moderately acidic environments. These data indicated that urea can be effectively utilized as a nitrogen source by A. naeslundii via a urease-dependent pathway and that ureolysis can protect A. naeslundii against environmental acidification at physiologically relevant pH values. Therefore, urease could confer to A. naeslundii critical selective advantages over nonureolytic organisms in dental plaque, constituting an important determinant of plaque ecology.
Project description:The study of bacterial interaction between Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces naeslundii may disclose important features of biofilm interspecies relationships. The aim of this study was to characterize-with an emphasis on biofilm formation and composition and metabolic activity-single- and dual-species biofilms of S. mutans or A. naeslundii, and to use a drip flow reactor (DFR) to evaluate biofilm stress responses to 0.2% chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX). Single- and dual-species biofilms were grown for 24 h. The following factors were evaluated: cell viability, biomass and total proteins in the extracellular matrix, 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide-"XTT"-reduction and lactic acid production. To evaluate stress response, biofilms were grown in DFR. Biofilms were treated with CHX or 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl; control). Biofilms were plated for viability assessment. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) was also performed. Data analysis was carried out at 5% significance level. S. mutans viability and lactic acid production in dual-species biofilms were significantly reduced. S. mutans showed a higher resistance to CHX in dual-species biofilms. Total protein content, biomass and XTT reduction showed no significant differences between single- and dual-species biofilms. CLSM images showed the formation of large clusters in dual-species biofilms. In conclusion, dual-species biofilms reduced S. mutans viability and lactic acid production and increased S. mutans' resistance to chlorhexidine.
Project description:Oral streptococci, including Streptococcus gordonii, and Actinomyces naeslundii, are consistently found to be the most abundant bacteria in the early stages of dental plaque accumulation. These organisms interact physically (coaggregate) in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that coaggregation between S. gordonii and A. naeslundii leads to changes in gene expression in the partner organisms. Furthermore, we predicted that coaggregation-induced changes in phenotype contribute to the success of streptococci and actinomyces in dental plaque. To assess the responses of S. gordonii to coaggregation with A. naeslundii, RNA was extracted from S. gordonii cells 3 h after inducing coaggregation with A. naeslundii or from equivalent S. gordonii monocultures. The two RNA populations were reverse transcribed and compared by competitive hybridization with an S. gordonii genomic microarray. The most striking feature of the response to coaggregation was a profound change in expression of S. gordonii genes involved in arginine biosynthesis and transport. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that coaggregation with A. naeslundii stabilizes arginine biosynthesis in S. gordonii and enables growth under low-arginine conditions, such as those present in human saliva. Keywords: Cell-cell interaction The S. gordonii microarrays consist of 2195 70-mer oligonucleotides representing 2151 open reading frames, each repeated six times on the array. Chemically defined medium (CDM), was based in Tereleckyj’s FMC with minor modifications (Jakubovics et al., 2008). For coaggregate cultures, concentrated suspensions of S. gordonii DL1 (Challis) and A. naeslundii MG1 in CDM were mixed, vortexed and diluted to 1 x 108 cfu/ml. Monocultures were set up identically, except that A. naeslundii cells were omitted. Cultures were incubated at 37oC for 3 h prior to harvesting and extraction of total RNA. Purified RNA was reverse transcribed and cDNAs were labelled with Cy3 or Cy5 dye. cDNAs from coaggregate cultures and from S. gordonii monocultures were competitively hybridized with the S. gordonii microarray. Three independent sets of cultures were used, and flip dye pairs were included for two of the biological replicates (ie 5 hybridizations in total). In control experiments, cDNA derived from A.naeslundii monocultures did not hybridize with the S. gordonii microarrays. Data represent the ratios of gene expression in coaggregated S. gordonii compared with S. gordonii monocultured cells.
Project description:The aim of this study was to investigate and clarify the ambiguous taxonomy of Actinomyces naeslundii and its closely related species using state-of-the-art high-throughput sequencing techniques, and, furthermore, to determine whether sub-clusters identified within Actinomyces oris and Actinomyces naeslundii in a previous study by multi locus sequence typing (MLST) using concatenation of seven housekeeping genes should either be classified as subspecies or distinct species. The strains in this study were broadly classified under Actinomyces naeslundii group as A. naeslundii genospecies I and genospecies II. Based on MLST data analysis, these were further classified as A. oris and A. naeslundii. The whole genome sequencing of selected strains of A. oris (n = 17) and A. naeslundii (n = 19) was carried out using Illumina Genome Analyzer IIxe and Roche 454 allowing paired-end and single-reads sequencing, respectively. The sequences obtained were aligned using CLC Genomic workbench version 5.1 and annotated using RAST (Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology) release version 59 accessible online. Additionally, genomes of seven publicly available strains of Actinomyces (k20, MG1, c505, OT175, OT171, OT170, and A. johnsonii) were also included. Comparative genomic analysis (CGA) using Mauve, Progressive Mauve, gene-by-gene, Core, and Pan Genome, and finally Digital DNA-DNA homology (DDH) analysis was carried out. DDH values were obtained using in silico genome-genome comparison. Evolutionary analysis using ClonalFrame was also undertaken. The mutation and recombination events were compared using chi-square test among A. oris and A. naeslundii isolates (analysis methods are not included in the study). CGA results were consistent with previous traditional classification using MLST. It was found that strains of Actinomyces k20, MG1, c505, and OT175 clustered in A. oris group of isolates, while OT171, OT170, and A. johnsonii appeared as separate branches. Similar clustering to MLST was observed for other isolates. The mutation and recombination events were significantly higher in A. oris than A. naeslundii, highlighting the diversity of A. oris strains in the oral cavity. These findings suggest that A. oris forms six distinct groups, whereas A. naeslundii forms three. The correct designation of isolates will help in the identification of clinical Actinomyces isolates found in dental plaque. Easily accessible online genomic sequence data will also accelerate the investigation of the biochemical characterisation and pathogenesis of this important group of micro-organisms.