Increased sensitivity of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans to human serum is mediated by induction of a bacteriophage.

ABSTRACT: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a Gram-negative oral pathobiont causing aggressive periodontitis and systemic infections, demonstrates serum resistance. We have identified a dsDNA-tailed bacteriophage, S1249, which was found to convert from this microorganism inducible by human serum into a lytic state to kill the bacterium. This phage demonstrated active transcripts when exposed to human serum: 20% of genes were upregulated more than 10-fold, and 45% of them were upregulated 5-10-fold when the bacterium was grown in the presence of human serum compared to without the presence of human serum. Transcriptional activation when grown in equine serum was less pronounced. This phage demonstrated a tail with inner rigid tubes and an outer contractile sheath, features of Myoviridae spp. Fur

SUBMITTER: Tang-Siegel GG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10087258 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature