The collagen-binding protein of Streptococcus mutans is involved in haemorrhagic stroke.

Although several risk factors for stroke have been identified, one-third remain unexplained. Here we show that infection with Streptococcus mutans expressing collagen-binding protein (CBP) is a potential risk factor for haemorrhagic stroke. Infection with serotype k S.

Direct ethanol production from cellulosic materials using a diploid strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with optimized cellulase expression.

Background: Hydrolysis of cellulose requires the action of the cellulolytic enzymes endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase and β-glucosidase. The expression ratios and synergetic effects of these enzymes significantly influence the extent and specific rate of cellulose degradation. In this study, using our previously developed method to optimize cellulase-expression levels in yeast, we constructed a diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain optimized for expression of cellulolytic enzymes, and attempted to improve the cellulose-degradation activity and enable direct ethanol production from rice straw, one of the most abundant sources of lignocellulosic biomass.

Detection of oral streptococci with collagen-binding properties in saliva specimens from mothers and their children.

Background: Approximately 10-20% of Streptococcus mutans strains have been reported to possess collagen-binding properties, whereas other species in the oral cavity with those properties remain to be elucidated. Aim. To identify strains with collagen-binding properties and analyse their characteristics in comparison with S.

Cocktail delta-integration: a novel method to construct cellulolytic enzyme expression ratio-optimized yeast strains.

Background: The filamentous fungus T. reesei effectively degrades cellulose and is known to produce various cellulolytic enzymes such as beta-glucosidase, endoglucanase, and cellobiohydrolase. The expression levels of each cellulase are controlled simultaneously, and their ratios and synergetic effects are important for effective cellulose degradation.

Molecular and clinical analyses of the gene encoding the collagen-binding adhesin of Streptococcus mutans.

Streptococcus mutans is a known pathogen of dental caries and its major cell surface antigens have been widely investigated. Recently, an approximately 120 kDa Cnm protein with binding properties to type I collagen was identified, and its encoding gene (cnm) cloned and sequenced. In the present study, we sequenced cnm from 47 different clinical S.

Oxidative imbalance in idiopathic renal hypouricemia.

An important complication of idiopathic renal hypouricemia is exercise-induced acute renal failure (ARF). The most plausible explanation for this complication is that decreased antioxidant potential leads to kidney injury by reactive oxygen species (ROS). We demonstrated this oxidative imbalance by a concomitant assessment of ROS production and antioxidant system capability in a 15- year-old girl with idiopathic renal hypouricemia caused by a mutation in the urate transporter (URAT1) gene.