N-acyl homoserine lactone production by Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from human tongue surface.
Bacteria communicate by producing quorum sensing molecules called autoinducers, which include autoinducer-1, an N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (AHL), and autoinducer-2. Bacteria present in the human oral cavity have been shown to produce autoinducer-2, but not AHL. Here, we report the isolation of two AHL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from the posterior dorsal surface of the tongue of a healthy individual. Spent culture supernatant extracts from K. pneumoniae activated the biosensors Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4(pZLR4) and Escherichia coli [pSB401], suggesting the presence of both long and short chain AHLs. High resolution mass spectrometry analyses of these extracts confirmed that both K. pneumoniae isolates produced N-octanoylhomoserine lactone and N-3-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of K. pneumoniae from the posterior dorsal surface of the human tongue and the production of these AHLs by this bacterium.
Division of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. yinwaifong@yahoo.com
Wai-Fong
WF
Yin
Kathiravan
K
Purmal
Shenyang
S
Chin
Xin-Yue
XY
Chan
Chong-Lek
CL
Koh
Choon-Kook
CK
Sam
Kok-Gan
KG
Chan
D054742:Acyl-Butyrolactones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006714:Homoserine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D014059:Tongue / Q000382:microbiology*
D054742:Acyl-Butyrolactones; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D007783:Lactones; C091088:N-octanoylhomoserine lactone; D006714:Homoserine