Analysis of urease expression in Actinomyces naeslundii WVU45.

ABSTRACT: The hydrolysis of urea by ureases of oral bacteria in dental plaque can cause a considerable increase in plaque pH, which can inhibit the development of dental caries. There is also indirect evidence that urea metabolism may promote the formation of calculus and that ammonia release from urea could exacerbate periodontal diseases. Actinomyces naeslundii, an early colonizer of the oral cavity and a numerically significant plaque constituent, demonstrates comparatively low levels of urease activity on isolation, so this organism has not been considered a major contributor to total oral urease activity. In this study it was observed that urease activity and urease-specific mRNA levels in A. naeslundii WVU45 can increase up to 50-fold during growth under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Using pri

SUBMITTER: Morou-Bermudez E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC97765 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature