Genetic analysis of Streptococcus gordoni biofilm formation
Date
2004
DOI
Authors
Soares, Flavio
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Biofilms can be defined simply and broadly as communities of microorganisms that are attached to a surface. Plaque formation involves the interaction between early bacterial colonizers and this film (the acquired enamel pellicle). The multistep process of oral biofilm formation is a complex developmental process initiated by attachment to saliva-conditioned oral surfaces of primary colonizers, such as viridians streptococci (including S. gordonii). Communication is a key element in successful organizations. Quorum sensing is the ability of bacteria to communicate with another. The purpose of this study was to use these biofilm-defective mutants to identify genetic interactions which occur during this transition by identifying suppressor mutants of transcriptional fusions. The site of Tn4001 transposition was determined for two of the double mutants. The double mutant, D3 (derived from S. gordonii adcR::Tn917-lac) was determined to have a Tn4001 insertion within comA, a component of the com operon in S. gordonii. Com AB encodes an ABC-type export permease that cleaves the product of comC to generate a peptide pheromone, competence stimulating factor (csp). The double mutant, H3 (derived from S. gordonii fruK::Tn917-lac) was determined to have Tn4001 inserton was within a gene encoding a putative lipoprotein and immediately adjacent to genes involved in glycerol metabolism and an X-prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase.
Description
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Thesis (M.S.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 2004 (Pediatric Dentistry).
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-59).
Thesis (M.S.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 2004 (Pediatric Dentistry).
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-59).
License
This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact open-help@bu.edu.