Objectives: To investigate the role of SecA in protein secretion, and to evaluate the effect of biofilm formation on protein secretion in Streptococcus mutans.
Design: S. mutans strains UA159 and GS-5 were used in this study. Cells grown in biofilm and planktonic conditions were observed using immunogold electron microscopy. The mRNA levels of ftf, gtfB, gtfC, gtfD, Pac and secA were analysed in different growth conditions using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The levels of wall proteins and whole-cell protein extracts were examined using Western blot analysis.
Results: A microdomain colocalised with SecA and virulence factors such as Pac (AgI/II) and glucosyltransferase (GTF) was observed. The mRNA level of secA was upregulated in the biofilm condition. The level of protein expression of SecA and wall protein levels of GTF, fructosyltransferase (FTF) and Pac (AgI/II) in the biofilm condition were significantly higher than in the planktonic condition.
Conclusions: These data suggest that S. mutans utilises the Sec pathway to secrete virulence factor proteins such as Pac (AgI/II), GTF and FTF, and protein secretion occurred at a distinct microdomain. The level of SecA, the key factor in the Sec pathway, was influenced significantly by biofilm formation in S. mutans.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archoralbio.2008.07.007 | DOI Listing |
NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes
January 2025
A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) & Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS), Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Sebaceous free fatty acids are metabolized by multiple skin microbes into bioactive lipid mediators termed oxylipins. This study investigated correlations between skin oxylipins and microbes on the superficial skin of pre-pubescent children (N = 36) and adults (N = 100), including pre- (N = 25) and post-menopausal females (N = 25). Lipidomics and metagenomics revealed that Malassezia restricta positively correlated with the oxylipin 9,10-DiHOME on adult skin and negatively correlated with its precursor, 9,10-EpOME, on pre-pubescent skin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Res
January 2025
Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Professor Aroon Sorathesn Center of Excellence in Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand. Electronic address:
Microplastics (MPs) pose significant risks to aquatic life and human health. Conventional water treatment is ineffective in removing MPs, demanding alternative technologies. Biochar exhibits a potential for removing MPs through adsorption and filtration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater Res
January 2025
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Due to the global outbreaks caused by pathogens, disinfection has attracted widespread attention, especially as the final inactivation step in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is regarded as one of low carbon disinfection methods without chemical agents, but in practice, the effects are sometimes unsatisfactory, e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand)
January 2025
Department Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Medical Technology, University of Al-Farahidi, Baghdad, Iraq.
BMC Microbiol
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has evolved as the most troublesome microorganism with multiple virulence factors. Biofilm formation, porins, micronutrient capturing mechanism and quorum sensing, provide protection against desiccation, host-pathogen killing and enhance its persistence. The conservation of these factors between colonizing and pathogenic carbapenem resistant A.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!