title: Application of rpoB and zinc protease gene for use in molecular discrimination of Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies.
abstract: Fusobacterium nucleatum is classified into five subspecies that inhabit the human oral cavity (F. nucleatum subsp. nucleatum, F. nucleatum subsp. polymorphum, F. nucleatum subsp. fusiforme, F. nucleatum subsp. vincentii, and F. nucleatum subsp. animalis) based on several phenotypic characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization patterns. However, the methods for detecting or discriminating the clinical isolates of F. nucleatum at the subspecies levels are laborious, expensive, and time-consuming. Therefore, in this study, the nucleotide sequences of the RNA polymerase beta-subunit gene (rpoB) and zinc protease gene were analyzed to discriminate the subspecies of F. nucleatum. The partial sequences of rpoB (approximately 2,419 bp), the zinc protease gene (878 bp), and 16S rRNA genes (approximately 1,500 bp) of the type strains of five subspecies, 28 clinical isolates of F. nucleatum, and 10 strains of F. periodonticum (as a control group) were determined and analyzed. The phylogenetic data showed that the rpoB and zinc protease gene sequences clearly delineated the subspecies of F. nucleatum and provided higher resolution than the 16S rRNA gene sequences in this respect. According to the phylogenetic analysis of rpoB and the zinc protease gene, F. nucleatum subsp. vincentii and F. nucleatum subsp. fusiforme might be classified into a single subspecies. Five clinical isolates could be delineated as a new subspecies of F. nucleatum. The results suggest that rpoB and the zinc protease gene are efficient targets for the discrimination and taxonomic analysis of the subspecies of F. nucleatum.
authors: Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, 375 Dong-Gu, Seosuk-Dong, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hwa-Sook
authors: HS
authors: Kim
authors: Dae-Sil
authors: DS
authors: Lee
authors: Young-Hyo
authors: YH
authors: Chang
authors: Min Jung
authors: MJ
authors: Kim
authors: Sukhoon
authors: S
authors: Koh
authors: Joongsu
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Jin-Hyo
authors: JH
authors: Seong
authors: Soo Keun
authors: SK
authors: Song
authors: Hwan Seon
authors: HS
authors: Shin
authors: Jae-Beum
authors: JB
authors: Son
authors: Min Young
authors: MY
authors: Jung
authors: Soon-Nang
authors: SN
authors: Park
authors: So Young
authors: SY
authors: Yoo
authors: Ki Woon
authors: KW
authors: Cho
authors: Dong-Kie
authors: DK
authors: Kim
authors: Seonghoon
authors: S
authors: Moon
authors: Dooil
authors: D
authors: Kim
authors: Yongseok
authors: Y
authors: Choi
authors: Byung-Ock
authors: BO
authors: Kim
authors: Hyun-Seon
authors: HS
authors: Jang
authors: Chun Sung
authors: CS
authors: Kim
authors: Chan
authors: C
authors: Kim
authors: Son-Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Choe
authors: Joong-Ki
authors: JK
authors: Kook
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics*; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C105078:RNA polymerase beta subunit; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases