title: Development of a gene inactivation system for Bacteroides forsythus: construction and characterization of a BspA mutant.
abstract: Bacteroides forsythus is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium associated with periodontitis. The bspA gene encoding a cell surface associated leucine-rich repeat protein (BspA) involved in adhesion to fibronectin and fibrinogen was recently cloned from this bacterium in our laboratory. We now describe the construction of a BspA-defective mutant of B. forsythus. This is the first report describing the generation of a specific gene knockout mutant of B. forsythus, and this procedure should be useful in establishing the identity of virulence-associated factors in these organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14214, USA.
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
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C116104:BspA protein, Bacteroides; D004269:DNA, Bacterial