title: Influence of Aae Autotransporter Protein on Adhesion and Biofilm Formation by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.
abstract: The periodontopathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans colonizes oral cavity by binding to and invading epithelial cells as well as by participating in biofilms formed on hard surfaces. Aae, an autotransporter protein, is implicated in bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells. Due to the multiple functions of bacterial autotransporter proteins, this study aimed to evaluate the role of aae in A. actinomycetemcomitans ability to adhere to both saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (SHA) and biofilm. An aae null mutant was constructed. Its hydrophobic properties as well as its ability to adhere to epithelial cells, SHA and to form biofilm were evaluated and compared with the parental strain, A. actinomycetemcomitans VT1169. The aae null mutant showed reduced hydrophobicity, as well as decreased binding to SHA and biofilm formation compared to the parental strain. These data suggest that aae mediates A. actinomycetemcomitans adhesion to epithelial cells and may be involved in biofilm formation and interaction with adsorbed salivary proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, EBMSP - Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brazil, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador BA , Brazil.|Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, USP - Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo SP , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carla Robatto
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, EBMSP - Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brazil, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador BA , Brazil.|Medical School, FAM - Faculdade das Américas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Faculdade das Américas, Medical School, Faculdade das Américas, São Paulo SP , Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila Larcher
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, EBMSP - Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brazil, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador BA , Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia Pinto Alves
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins