title: Cloning, expression, and sequencing of a cell surface antigen containing a leucine-rich repeat motif from Bacteroides forsythus ATCC 43037.
abstract: Bacteroides forsythus is a recently recognized human periodontopathogen associated with advanced, as well as recurrent, periodontitis. However, very little is known about the mechanism of pathogenesis of this organism. The present study was undertaken to identify the surface molecules of this bacterium that may play roles in its adherence to oral tissues or triggering of a host immune response(s). The gene (bspA) encoding a cell surface-associated protein of B. forsythus with an apparent molecular mass of 98 kDa was isolated by immunoscreening of a B. forsythus gene library constructed in a lambda ZAP II vector. The encoded 98-kDa protein (BspA) contains 14 complete repeats of 23 amino acid residues that show partial homology to leucine-rich repeat motifs. A recombinant protein containing the repeat region was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and utilized for antibody production, as well as in vitro binding studies. The purified recombinant protein bound strongly to fibronectin and fibrinogen in a dose-dependent manner and further inhibited the binding of B. forsythus cells to these extracellular matrix (ECM) components. In addition, adult patients with B. forsythus-associated periodontitis expressed specific antibodies against the BspA protein. We report here the cloning and expression of an immunogenic cell surface-associated protein (BspA) of B. forsythus and speculate that it mediates the binding of bacteria to ECM components and clotting factors (fibronectin and fibrinogen, respectively), which may be important in the colonization of the oral cavity by this bacterium and is also a target for the host immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214, USA. sharmaa@acsu.buffalo.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Sojar
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Glurich
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kuramitsu
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Genco
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020449:Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C116104:BspA protein, Bacteroides; D005353:Fibronectins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005340:Fibrinogen; D007930:Leucine