title: Association of tannase-producing Staphylococcus lugdunensis with colon cancer and characterization of a novel tannase gene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between Streptococcus (St.) bovis endocarditis and colon cancer is well known. In St. bovis, the biotype I strain (formerly, St. gallolyticus) produces tannase that degrades tannins. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of tannase-producing bacteria with colon cancer, and to identify the major tannase-producing bacteria and the gene involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tannase-producing bacteria were isolated in tannic acid-treated selective agar medium from feces and rectal swabs of 357 patients who underwent colon endoscopy from 1999 to 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tannase-producing bacteria were isolated more frequently from the colon cancer group (24.3%) than from the adenoma or normal groups (14.4%; P < 0.05). S. gallolyticus, Staphylococcus (S.) lugdunensis, Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum, and L. pentosus were all identified as tannase-producing bacteria. Of these, S. lugdunensis was significantly isolated from the advanced-stage cancer group (22.2%; P < 0.001) more than from the early-stage cancer (8.6%) or adenoma (4.9%) groups. The gene (tanA) for tannase in S. lugdunensis was cloned and sequenced. The tanA gene was associated with all S. lugdunensis but not with other bacteria by Southern blotting and polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tannase-producing S. lugdunensis is associated with advanced-stage colon cancer, and the tanA gene is a useful marker for the detection of S. lugdunensis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Taisei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiratori
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narui
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyahara
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.forename: Fuminori
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moriyasu
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasatsu
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000382:microbiology; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005819:Genetic Markers; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C022711:tannase