Novel Surface Structures Are Associated with the Adhesion of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans to Collagen

• DOI: 10.1128/iai.00857-06
• Publication Date: 2006-10-20T22:57:47Z
• Authors: Teresa Ruiz; Christopher Lenox; Michael Radermacher; Keith P. Mintz
• Keywords: Actinobacillus; Yersinia enterocolitica; Fimbriae Proteins

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a gram-negative, facultative, anaerobic bacterium that colonizes the human oral cavity and upper respiratory tract. This strongly associated with localized aggressive periodontitis adult causative agent for other serious systemic infections. Recently, we have identified protein, EmaA (extracellular matrix protein adhesin A), mediates adhesion of A. to collagen. The conserved sequence predicted secondary structure suggest an orthologue Yersinia enterocolitica YadA. Electron microscopy examinations antenna-like protrusions surface bacterium. These structures are absent on emaA mutant strains can be restored by transformation strain in trans. loss these decrease binding this composed long rod terminates ellipsoidal head region. analysis using image processing techniques has provided initial estimate overall dimensions, which suggests appendages oligomeric formed either three or four subunits. Together, data required expression novel mediate