Endopeptidase activities of selected Porphyromonas spp., Prevotella spp. and Fusobacterium spp. of oral and non-oral origin

The ability of three Porphyromonas spp., seven Prevotella spp., seven Fusobacterium spp. and two related Bacteroides spp. (B. levii and B. macacae) to degrade an extensive range of synthetic endo-, amino- and diamino peptidase substrates linked to the fluorescent leaving group 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (NHMec) was investigated. Many more species than was previously recognized exhibited peptidase activities, albeit at lower levels than those already described for Porphyromonas gingivalis. Detection of chymotrypsin-like activity was dependent on which of three NHMec-linked substrates was used, but all species exhibited degradative activity with at least one of these substrates. Elastase-like activity was detected in all species though not all species reacted with each of the elastase substrates. Glycylprolyl peptidase activity was detected in all of the species tested with the exception of F. mortiferum, F. gonidiaformans, F. naviforme and F. necrophorum. While the detection of peptidase activities does not appear to be useful for the differentiation of species within the genera Bacteroides and Prevotella, its ability to differentiate species of the genus Porphyromonas or Fosobacterium further investigation.     

Expression of the β‐adhesin part of HRgpA in Sprague Dawley rats induces a specific antibody response

The β‐adhesin part of the Porphyromonas gingivalis W50 (ATCC 53978) protease HRgpA was cloned in an eukaryotic expression vector and expressed in COS‐7 cells. The monoclonal antibody MAb (61BG1.3), specific for the hemagglutinating domain of β‐adhesin, recognized the expressed β‐adhesin in the transfected cells both by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. Sprague Dawley rats were immunized intramuscularly with β‐adhesin encoding expression plasmid and expression plasmid without β‐adhesin insert. Skeletal muscle tissue at the site of immunization in the β‐adhesin immunized animals was shown to express this protein. The immunization induced a β‐adhesin‐specific antibody response. Sera from the immunized animals were tested for hemagglutination inhibiting activity. Due to high natural inhibiting activity in all rat sera tested, no increased hemagglutination inhibition was detected in sera from the β‐adhesin immunized animals.     

Characterisation of black-pigmented anaerobes isolated from diseased and healthy periodontal sites

Prevotella intermedia has recently been re-defined and a new species, Prevotella nigrescens has been proposed. However, there is little data available on the incidence of these new species in periodontal health or disease. Black-pigmented anaerobes isolated from diseased and healthy subgingival sites were identified by serotyping, SDS-PAGE and physiological tests. In adult periodontitis subjects, 64% of active sites, 35.7% of inactive sites and 38.5% of healthy sites yielded black-pigmented anaerobes. Of these, Porphyromonas gingivalis was found in 11% of active and 5% of healthy sites in diseased patients, Prevotella intermedia in 15.5% of active and 20.5% of healthy sites, Prevotella nigrescens in 37.7% of active and 11.5% of healthy sites and Prevotella denticola in 3% of active and 1% of healthy sites. In healthy subjects, 50% of sites yielded black-pigmented anaerobes. P. gingivalis was not found in healthy subjects but P. intermedia was found in 18% and P. nigrescens in 31% of sites. SDS-PAGE proved to be a useful method for routinely differentiating P. intermedia and P. nigrescens and two sub-types of the latter species were detected on the basis of band pattern. Only one P. nigrescens sub-type was found in any given individual and one type, typified by ATCC 25261, was more commonly found in deep pockets. However, overall both P. nigrescens and P. intermedia as species were just as frequently found at healthy sites as diseased sites. Thus, these species, in contrast to P. gingivalis , appear to be common commensals but they may act as opportunistic pathogens.     

Demonstration of adherence properties of Porphyromonas gingivalis outer membrane vesicles using a new microassay

Vesicles made by Porphyromonas gingivalis possess several biological activities, including the ability to adhere to oral surfaces and to bacteria. In this study, a new and simple method was developed to measure the adherence capability of outer membrane vesicles from P. gingivalis . Vesicles were conjugated to fluorescent microspheres (0.7 μ) and added to wells of a Teflon-coated microscope slide previously covered with a variety of soluble ligands. After incubation and washes, the number of fluorescent microspheres per microscopic field were counted. Vesicle-coated microspheres attached best to gelatin (<200 per field), whereas other compounds (such as fibronectin, fibrinogen, collagen and laminin) provided moderate attachment, and no attachment was observed to bovine serum albumin. Adherence to any of the tested ligands was not observed when fluorescent micro-spheres were conjugated to bovine serum albumin or lipopolysaccharides from P. gingivalis. The adherence of vesicle-coated microspheres to ligands was not significantly affected when the pH of the reaction mixture was between 4 and 10. None of the tested carbohydrates lowered the attachment capability of vesicle-coated microspheres to substrates. When vesicle-coated microspheres were treated with trypsin and chymotrypsin or heated, this resulted in a significant loss of attachment, suggesting a possible involvement of proteinaceous molecules in the process. The present study confirms that vesicles of P. gingivalis are capable of attachment to various molecules and indicate their potential role in colonization.     

Analysis of the protease and adhesin domains of the PrpRI of Porphyromonas gingivalis

The production of extracellular proteolytic enzymes is a widely used strategy by human parasites including bacteria, protozoa and helminths in order to ensure survival in the colonized host. The potential benefits to the organism arise through modifications to the external environment of the cell and include the release of essential nutrients, the disablement/deregulation of the host defences and the exposure of previously shielded substrata as new sites for colonization. Damage to the host may arise through direct proteolysis of structural proteins, deregulation of the inflammatory response or the compromising of the local host defences below the threshold necessary for effective defence. In order to examine these interactions and how they may be regulated in the periodontal diseases, we are examining the properties of proteases of the oral anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis with specificity for arginyl peptide bonds (ArgI, ArgIA and ArgIB): a family of enzymes which has been shown to exert effects on a variety of host proteins with roles in the control of inflammation and tissue homeostasis. Analysis of the gene for ArgI (protease polyprotein for ArgI - prpRl) together with structural and immunochemical studies of these 3 interrelated forms indicates that they may be regarded as critical determinants in multiple aspects of the life cycle of the organism via both proteolysis and binding processes. Together with the highly conserved nature of the gene, the data suggest that the PrpRI of P. gingivalis is an essential colonization determinant which may play an important role in the periodontal disease process.     

The potential role of α2-macroglobulin in the control of cysteine proteinases (gingipains) from Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis is closely associated with the development of some forms of periodontitis. The major cysteine proteinases released by this bacterium hydrolyze peptide bonds only after arginyl (gingipain R) or lysyl residues (gingipain K). No target protein inhibitors have been identified for either enzyme, leading us to investigate their inhibition by human plasma α₂-macroglobulin (α₂M). Both 50- and 95 kDa gingipain R were efficiently inhibited by α₂M, whereas the catalytic activity of gingipain K could not be eliminated. All 3 enzymes were, however, inhibited by a homologous macroglobulin from rat plasma, α₁-inhibitor-3 a-Macroglobulins must be cleaved in the so-called "bait region" in order to inhibit proteinases by a mechanism involving physical entrapment of the enzyme. A comparison of the aminio acid sequences of the 2 macroglobulins indicates that the lack of lysyl residues within the bait region of α₂M protects Lys-specific proteinases from being trapped. On this basis, other highly specific proteinases might also not be inhibited by α₂M, possibly explaining the inability of the inhibitor to control proteolytic activity in some bacterially induced inflammatory states, despite its abundance (2-5 mg/ml) in vascular fluids.     

Proteolytic artifacts in SDS-PAGE analysis of selected periodontal pathogen:

The aim of the study was to examine whether proteolytic artifacts, which result in a loss and poor resolution of protein bands, occur during sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of cellular proteins from selected proteolytic ( Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella nigrescens and Treponema denticola ) and non-proteolytic ( Fusobacterium nudeatum ) bacteria. Conditions to limit or prevent proteolysis were also investigated. Bacterial cells were incubated in solubilizing buffer (SDS +β mercaptoethanol) at room temperature for various periods of time before boiling. A control assay consisted of trichloroacetic acid-treated bacterial cells. Cellular proteins were separated by electrophoresis and stained with Coomassie blue. Proteolysis occurred very rapidly in the case of P. gingivalis (<30 s), whereas a longer incubation time (>1 h) was required to observe similar effects in P. nigrescens and T. denticola. No proteolysis was observed for F. nudeatum. In all cases, heat (100°C) and low pH (<4) treatments of bacterial cells could avoid production of proteolytic artifacts. Incorporation of specific protease inhibitors before solubilization of bacteria could also prevent proteolysis. More particularly, N -α- p -tosyl- l -lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), iodoacetamide and diisopropylfluorophosphate (50 mM) were highly efficient for P. gingivalis, P. nigrescens and T. denticola , respectively. When outer membranes of P. gingivalis were prepared in the presence of TLCK, numerous additional protein bands, not seen in the absence of TLCK, were detected. The present study suggests that specific protease inhibitors, effective in preventing proteolysis. should be identified and added during cell fractionation and protein purification procedures.     

齿龈内阿米巴的致病作用与致病机制的研究

在注射免疫抑制剂 1周后的大白鼠龈缘涂抹齿龈内阿米巴 (Emtamoebagingivalis ,E .g .) ,5天后 ,牙龈组织出现溃疡、牙周脓肿形成、脓液查见活E .g .、牙槽骨吸收等牙周炎病症。电镜术与生化分析发现 :E .g .伪足活跃、有丰富的溶酶体 ,所含水解酶与ACP显著较健康组高 (P <0 0 1) ,可使牙周组织溶解与受损。SOD较健康组显著性低 (P <0 0 1) ,MDA显著性增高 (P <0 0 1) ,说明E .g .感染产生较多氧自由基可使细胞膜受损 ,加上口腔共生菌的协同作用使免疫力低下的宿主发生牙周炎。     

牙龈卟啉单胞菌感染对载脂蛋白e基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响

目的: 探讨牙龈卟啉单胞菌(Porphyromonas gingivalis,P. gingivalis)引起的炎症和氧化应激反应对动脉粥样硬化的影响及作用机制。方法: 采用8周龄载脂蛋白e基因敲除(ApoE knockout,ApoE-/-)小鼠建立动脉粥样硬化动物模型,将小鼠随机分为两组:(1)磷酸盐缓冲液(phosphate buffered saline,PBS)健康对照组:8只ApoE-/-小鼠,普通饮食+PBS鼠尾静脉注射;(2)P. gingivalis感染组:8只ApoE-/-小鼠,普通饮食+P. gingivalis鼠尾静脉注射。1周3次,隔天1次,共10次。4周后处死,取心脏组织进行油红O染色,血清进行酶联免疫吸附测定(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA),主动脉进行实时荧光定量PCR以及Western blot检测。结果: P. gingivalis 感染组较PBS健康对照组可以显著加重ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块的形成,增加血清中炎症介质,如白细胞介素(interleukin,IL)-1β、IL-6和肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)以及氧化应激介质8-羟脱氧鸟苷(8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine,8-OHDG)表达,增加主动脉组织中IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α、NADPH 氧化酶(NADPH oxidase,NOX)-2和NOX-4基因的mRNA水平。P. gingivalis感染后在主动脉组织中观察到核转录因子-κB(nuclear factor-kappa B,NF-κB)表达有增高趋势。结论: P.gingivalis感染会加速ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化进程,诱导氧化应激和炎症反应;NF-κB信号通路可能是P. gingivalis加速动脉粥样硬化形成的重要作用机制。     

定向敲除牙龈卟啉单胞菌菌毛蛋白FimA的重组质粒构建

目的 构建定向敲除牙龈卟啉单胞菌(Porphyromonas gingivalis,Pg)菌毛蛋白FimA基因的质粒pPHU281_A_Spec_B,用于后续构建菌毛蛋白FimA缺陷型Pg,为研究FimA的功能奠定分子基础.方法 厌氧培养PgATCC33277,提取基因组DNA,聚合酶链反应扩增PgFimA基因一定长度的上游A片段及下游B片段,并在扩增片段两端添加合适的酶切位点；利用定向克隆技术将A和B 基因插入到载体自杀质粒pPHU281中,并添加大观霉素抗性基因片段,重组的pPHU281 _A_Spec_B 在大肠杆菌DH-5α内扩增后酶切电泳鉴定并进行DNA测序.结果 通过对重组质粒pPHU281_A_Spec_B进行酶切鉴定以及DNA序列测定分析,证明重组质粒pPHU281_A_Spec_B构建成功.结论 成功构建了质粒pPHU281_A_Spec_B,有利于菌毛蛋白FimA缺陷型Pg的构建,为深入研究FimA的作用机制奠定了基础.