IADR Abstract Archives

Muropeptide growth regulation in an "unculturable" oral bacterium

Objectives: Around 50% of oral bacteria have yet to be cultured and there is evidence that some oral bacteria require signals from other bacteria in the biofilm for growth. Muropeptides derived from peptidoglycan have been shown to induce germination of Bacillus subtilis spores after binding to serine / threonine membrane kinase via an extracellular receptor. The aim of this work was to test peptidoglycan and muropeptide preparations for their ability to induce the growth of an oral bacterial strain dependent on co-culture.

Methods: Prevotella Oral Taxon 376 strain E7_34, which requires co-culture with other bacteria for growth, was used as the test strain. Muropeptides were prepared from B. subtilis CCUG163 and induction of germination of B. subtilis spores was tested as a positive control. Fluorescence assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE) was used to confirm the presence of muropeptides in the preparations. Fastidious Anaerobe Agar (FAA) plates were supplemented with 10 mg of the muropeptide preparation and inoculated with strain E7_34.

Results: Muropeptides prepared from B. subtilis successfully induced germination of 84 % of B. subtilis spores. After 7 days incubation, strain E7_34 exhibited 2+ growth on FAA supplemented with B. subtilis muropeptides and 3+ growth on FAA with undigested B. subtilis peptidoglycan. There was no growth in unsupplemented FAA cultures.

Conclusion: Muropeptides and peptidoglycan from B. subtilis were able to induce growth in a Prevotella strain dependent on co-culture. Muropeptide signalling appears to be a fundamental mechanism controlling the growth of this oral bacterium.


British Division Meeting
2011 British Division Meeting (Sheffield, England)
Sheffield, England
2011
53
Scientific Groups
  • Vithlani, Gauri  ( King's College London, London, N/A, United Kingdom )
    • Oral Session
    Microbiology/Therapeutics
    09/13/2011