Previous Article | Next Article 
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2005, p. 354-362, Vol. 71, No. 1
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/AEM.71.1.354-362.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Interactions between Oral Bacteria: Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans Bacteriocin Production by Streptococcus gordonii
Bing-Yan Wang and
Howard K. Kuramitsu*
Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York
Received 28 May 2004/
Accepted 25 August 2004
Streptococcus mutans has been recognized as an important etiological agent in human dental caries. Some strains of S. mutans also produce bacteriocins. In this study, we sought to demonstrate that bacteriocin production by S. mutans strains GS5 and BM71 was mediated by quorum sensing, which is dependent on a competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) signaling system encoded by the com genes. We also demonstrated that interactions with some other oral streptococci interfered with S. mutans bacteriocin production both in broth and in biofilms. The inhibition of S. mutans bacteriocin production by oral bacteria was stronger in biofilms than in broth. Using transposon Tn916 mutagenesis, we identified a gene (sgc; named for Streptococcus gordonii challisin) responsible for the inhibition of S. mutans bacteriocin production by S. gordonii Challis. Interruption of the sgc gene in S. gordonii Challis resulted in attenuated inhibition of S. mutans bacteriocin production. The supernatant fluids from the sgc mutant did not inactivate the exogenous S. mutans CSP as did those from the parent strain Challis. S. gordonii Challis did not inactivate bacteriocin produced by S. mutans GS5. Because S. mutans uses quorum sensing to regulate virulence, strategies designed to interfere with these signaling systems may have broad applicability for biological control of this caries-causing organism.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 3435 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14214. Phone: (716) 829-2068. Fax: (716) 829-3942. E-mail:
kuramits{at}buffalo.edu.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2005, p. 354-362, Vol. 71, No. 1
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/AEM.71.1.354-362.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Rogers, G. B., Carroll, M. P., Bruce, K. D.
(2009). Studying bacterial infections through culture-independent approaches. J Med Microbiol
58: 1401-1418
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Nobbs, A. H., Lamont, R. J., Jenkinson, H. F.
(2009). Streptococcus Adherence and Colonization. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev.
73: 407-450
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Davies, J. R., Svensater, G., Herzberg, M. C.
(2009). Identification of novel LPXTG-linked surface proteins from Streptococcus gordonii. Microbiology
155: 1977-1988
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
van der Ploeg, J. R.
(2008). Characterization of Streptococcus gordonii prophage PH15: complete genome sequence and functional analysis of phage-encoded integrase and endolysin. Microbiology
154: 2970-2978
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Yonezawa, H., Kuramitsu, H. K., Nakayama, S.-i., Mitobe, J., Motegi, M., Nakao, R., Watanabe, H., Senpuku, H.
(2008). Differential Expression of the Smb Bacteriocin in Streptococcus mutans Isolates. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
52: 2742-2749
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Kuramitsu, H. K., He, X., Lux, R., Anderson, M. H., Shi, W.
(2007). Interspecies Interactions within Oral Microbial Communities. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev.
71: 653-670
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Xie, H., Lin, X., Wang, B.-Y., Wu, J., Lamont, R. J.
(2007). Identification of a signalling molecule involved in bacterial intergeneric communication. Microbiology
153: 3228-3234
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Heng, N. C. K., Tagg, J. R., Tompkins, G. R.
(2007). Competence-Dependent Bacteriocin Production by Streptococcus gordonii DL1 (Challis). J. Bacteriol.
189: 1468-1472
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Drobni, M., Li, T., Kruger, C., Loimaranta, V., Kilian, M., Hammarstrom, L., Jornvall, H., Bergman, T., Stromberg, N.
(2006). Host-Derived Pentapeptide Affecting Adhesion, Proliferation, and Local pH in Biofilm Communities Composed of Streptococcus and Actinomyces Species. Infect. Immun.
74: 6293-6299
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
-
Allaker, R.P., Dymock, D.
(2005). Proceedings of the 8th European Oral Microbiology Workshop. ADR
18: 27-33
[Full Text]
-
van der Ploeg, J. R.
(2005). Regulation of Bacteriocin Production in Streptococcus mutans by the Quorum-Sensing System Required for Development of Genetic Competence. J. Bacteriol.
187: 3980-3989
[Abstract]
[Full Text]