Identification and Characterization of a Novel Adhesin Unique to Oral Fusobacteria

• DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.15.5330-5340.2005
• Publication Date: 2005-07-19T19:33:01Z
• Authors: Yiping W. Han; Akihiko Ikegami; Chythanya Rajanna; Hameem I. Kawsar; Yun Zhou; Mei Li; Hakimuddin T. Sojar; Robert J. Genco; Howard K. Kuramitsu; Cheri X. Deng
• Keywords: Fusobacterium nucleatum; Fusobacteria; Fusobacterium; Bacteroidaceae

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a gram-negative anaerobe that prevalent in periodontal disease and infections of different parts the body. The organism has remarkable adherence properties, binding to partners ranging from eukaryotic prokaryotic cells extracellular macromolecules. Understanding its important for understanding pathogenesis F. nucleatum. In this study, novel adhesin, FadA (Fusobacterium adhesin A), was demonstrated bind surface proteins oral mucosal KB cells. composed 129 amino acid (aa) residues, including an 18-aa signal peptide, with calculated molecular masses 13.6 kDa intact form 12.6 secreted form. It highly conserved among nucleatum, periodonticum, simiae, three most closely related species, but absent nonoral gonidiaformans, mortiferum, naviforme, russii, ulcerans. addition FadA, ATCC 25586 49256 also encode two paralogues, FN1529 FNV2159, each sharing 31% identity FadA. A double-crossover fadA deletion mutant, 12230-US1, constructed by utilizing sonoporation procedure. mutant had slightly slower growth rate, yet Chinese hamster ovarian reduced 70 80% compared wild type, indicating plays role fusobacterial colonization host. Furthermore, due uniqueness may be used as marker detect orally fusobacteria. isolated other body originate cavity.