Open AccessMutagenesis of outer membrane virulence determinants of the oral spirochete Treponema denticola
Author(s) -
Fenno J.Christopher,
Wong Grace W.K,
Hannam Pauline M,
McBride Barry C
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb13047.x
Subject(s) - treponema denticola , bacterial outer membrane , mutant , treponema , locus (genetics) , virulence , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , transposon mutagenesis , gene , insertion , virology , transposable element , genetics , bacteria , escherichia coli , porphyromonas gingivalis , syphilis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
The pore‐forming major surface protein (Msp) and the chymotrypsin‐like protease (CTLP) of Treponema denticola ATCC 35405 have been implicated in periodontal pathogenicity. Allelic replacement mutations were constructed at two sites in the msp gene and at one site in the CTLP locus. All mutant strains lacked the Msp hexagonal array outer membrane ultrastructure. Strain CKE, in which the locus encoding CTLP was disrupted, produced no CTLP and had aberrant Msp expression. The msp mutant MHE lacked Msp, and produced increased levels of CTLP. In contrast, msp mutant MPE made small amounts of a truncated Msp, but produced no CTLP. Interactions between Msp and CTLP in transport or assembly of the outer membrane complex are proposed.