Molecular characterization and epidemiological analysis of Fusobacterium nucleatum and the Fusobacterium species
Abstract
Fusobacterium nucleatum is the most frequently isolated organism from the subgingival plaque of periodontally diseased patients. DNA-DNA homology, SDS PAGE analysis, and enzyme electrophoretic migration patterns have resulted in the creation of four distinct subspecies of F. nucleatum, however, additional subgroups may exist. Experiments using AP-PCR were performed to determine if the members of the genus Fusobacterium could be differentiated and the results revealed that each of the nine species tested demonstrated a unique fingerprint using two different random primers. Common amplicons were observed among the Fusobacterium species and F. nucleatum which may represent conserved regions of Fusobacterium genomes. Experiments screening seven of the Fusobacterium species against a panel of eleven periodontal microorganisms for coaggregating ability revealed that F. periodonticum and F. necrophorum shared coaggregation activity with F. nucleatum and that coaggregating ability may be a useful criterion in differentiating members of the Fusobacterium species. Dot immunobinding studies revealed that antigens were shared among most of the Fusobacterium with the exception of F. ulcerans. The type strains of each subspecies of F. nucleatum were readily differentiated using their unique AP-PCR fingerprints, however, additional clinical F. nucleatum isolates demonstrated heterogeneous AP-PCR patterns and the isolates could not be assigned to one of the subspecies based on AP-PCR fingerprints. Similar genotypes were observed between F. nucleatum isolates from different states of health and disease, from different individuals, and from different geographical locations indicating that F. nucleatum isolates demonstrated characteristics associated with a clonal species. Up to four different genotypes were distinguished from isolates from the same oral cavity and up to three different genotypes were observed within an single site. An intense amplicon at approximately 450 bp generated in AP-PCR amplifications with primer C2 was associated with F. nucleatum subsp. nucleatum (ATCC 25586; the type strain that has been associated with disease) and with several F. nucleatum isolates from diseased sites suggesting that this amplicon may be an indicator of F. nucleatum genotypes associated with disease. The AP-PCR patterns of F. nucleatum isolates from dogs, cats, and monkeys were distinct from the AP-PCR patterns of F. nucleatum isolates from humans, however, a strong similarity was observed among the amplification patterns generated by monkey and human isolates suggesting that monkey isolates are genetically similar to human F. nucleatum isolates and that monkey isolates may have their own genetic cluster. Common amplicons were observed among all F. nucleatum isolates regardless of their source of isolation which may reflect conserved regions of F. nucleatum genomes. Unique amplicons were observed among the F. nucleatum isolates from humans, dogs, cats, and monkeys, suggesting that these fragments may be useful in differentiating F. nucleatum isolates from different animal species. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of isolates from patient JMG6 confirmed the AP-PCR genotypes and indicated that PFGE offered increased discriminatory power over AP-PCR. A repeated DNA sequence was observed among F. necrophorum strains but was absent from F. nucleatum strains. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Description
University of Maryland, Baltimore. Microbiology. Ph.D. 1995Keyword
Biology, MicrobiologyHealth Sciences, Dentistry
coaggregation
Fusobacterium--genetics
Fusobacterium nucleatum
Periodontal Diseases--microbiology