RRC ID 50727
Author Nagano K, Hasegawa Y, Yoshida Y, Yoshimura F.
Title Comparative analysis of motility and other properties of Treponema denticola strains.
Journal Microb. Pathog.
Abstract The periodontitis-associated pathogen Treponema denticola is a spirochetal bacterium that swims by rotating its cell body like a corkscrew using periplasmic flagella. We compared physiologic and pathogenic properties, including motility, in four strains of T. denticola. Phase-contrast microscopy showed differential motility between the strains; ATCC 35404 showed the highest motility, followed by ATCC 33521, and the remaining two strains (ATCC 35405 and ATCC 33520) showed the lowest motility. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the low motility strains exhibited extracellular flagellar protrusions resulting from elongated flagella. Treponemal flagellar filaments are composed of three flagellins of FlaB1, FlaB2 and FlaB3. FlaB1 expression was comparable between the strains, whereas FlaB2 expression was lowest in ATCC 35404. FlaB3 expression varied among strains, with ATCC 35405, ATCC 33520, ATCC 33521, and ATCC 35404 showing the highest to lowest expression levels, respectively. Additionally, the low motility strains showed faster electrophoretic mobility of FlaB3, suggesting that posttranslational modifications of these proteins may have varied, because the amino acid sequences of FlaB3 were identical between the strains. These results suggest that inappropriate expression of FlaB2 and FlaB3 caused the unusual elongation of flagella that resulted in decreased motility. Furthermore, the low motility strains grew to higher bacterial density, and showed greater chymotrypsin-like protease activity, and more bacterial cells associated with gingival epithelial cells in comparison with the high motility strains. There may be a relationship between motility and these properties, but the genetic factors underlying this association remain unclear.
Volume 102
Pages 82-88
Published 2017-1
DOI 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.11.021
PII S0882-4010(16)30337-0
PMID 27914958
MeSH Bacterial Physiological Phenomena* Bacterial Proteins / chemistry Bacterial Proteins / genetics Bacterial Proteins / metabolism Cell Line Computational Biology / methods Epithelial Cells / microbiology Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology Humans In Vitro Techniques Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism Periodontal Diseases / microbiology Phenotype Transcription, Genetic Treponema denticola / physiology* Treponema denticola / ultrastructure
IF 2.332
General Microbes JCM 8152 JCM 8153 JCM 8225 JCM 8226