Purification of a hemagglutinin from viellonella parvula PK 1940
Date
1998
DOI
Authors
Tharapiwattananon, Thipawan
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Veillonella parvula are among the most common isolates from subgingival dental plaque. Despite this relative abundance, little is known regarding their interaction with human cells and saliva. Recent studies in our laboratory showed that many V. parvula isolates agglutinate human and other animal erythrocytes. In the present study, a hemagglutinin from V. parvula PK194O was purified. Hemagglutinating activity was released from whole cells by water extraction of surface proteins. Hemagglutinating activity was further purified by sequential gel filtration and anionic exchange chromatography in the presence of 6M urea. Chromatographic fractions with hemagglutinating activity show a single protein at 49 kDa in silver-stained SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Addition of as little as 1.0 microgram of the 49 kDa protein to a 50 microliter suspension of 2% human erythrocytes resulted in rapid agglutination. Preparations of the hemagglutinin have a fibrillar appearance in electron micrographs. EM studies with gold-labeled polyclonal monospecific antisera to the 49 kDa protein suggest it is evenly distributed on the V. parvula PK1940 cell surface. Based on its interaction with surface receptors on human erythrocytes, the 49 kDa surface protein from V. parvula PK1940 may function in colonizing the gingival crevice by recognizing similar receptors on oral epithelial cells and/or in the salivary pellicle present on cementum and enamel in the gingival crevice.
Description
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Thesis (D.Sc.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 1998 (Pediatric Dentistry).
Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 96-138).
Thesis (D.Sc.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 1998 (Pediatric Dentistry).
Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 96-138).
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.