Open AccessPeptostreptococcus micros coaggregates with Fusobacterium nucleatum and non‐encapsulated Porphyromonas gingivalis
Author(s) -
Kremer Bas H.A,
Steenbergen T.J.Martijn
Publication year - 2000
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.1574-6968.2000.tb08873.x
Subject(s) - fusobacterium nucleatum , porphyromonas gingivalis , bacteroidaceae , microbiology and biotechnology , periodontal pathogen , fusobacterium , peptostreptococcus , chemistry , genotype , periodontal disease , biology , bacteroides , bacteria , biochemistry , medicine , gene , genetics , dentistry
Coaggregation is one of the potential colonization strategies of oral microorganisms, often involving fimbrial structures in the interactions. In this study, the coaggregation characteristics of the rough and smooth genotypes of the periodontal pathogen Peptostreptococcus micros were compared to investigate the role of the fibril‐like structures of the rough genotype in coaggregation. Of the 11 oral species tested, only Fusobacterium nucleatum strains and non‐encapsulated Porphyromonas gingivalis strains coaggregated with P. micros . No differences in coaggregation between the smooth type (Sm), the rough type (Rg) and the smooth variant of the Rg type (Rg Sm ) of P. micros were observed. Heat‐stable, periodate‐sensitive structures on P. micros appeared to interact with heat‐ and protease‐sensitive structures on F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis . These data indicate that these unimodal coaggregations are not mediated by the proteinaceous fibril‐like structures of the Rg genotype, but by carbohydrates present on both genotypes of P. micros .