Phenotypic Changes in Nonfimbriated Smooth Strains of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Grown in Low-humidity Solid Medium

Abstract Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is the primary etiologic agent of localized aggressive periodontitis. In vitro, it can undergo fimbriated rough to nonfimbriated smooth phenotypic transition, accompanied by an increase in invasive ability and a decrease in adhesive ability. No opposite...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ultrastructural pathology 2013-04, Vol.37 (2), p.121-126
Main Authors: Pei, Zhenhua, Niu, Zhongying, Shi, Shenggen, Shi, Liang, Tang, Chuhua
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - genetics
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - growth & development
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - ultrastructure
Culture Media
Exotoxins - genetics
fimbriae
Fimbriae, Bacterial - ultrastructure
Humans
Humidity
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Periodontitis - diagnosis
Periodontitis - microbiology
Phenotype
phenotypic transition
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Bacterial - genetics
transmission electron microscope
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is the primary etiologic agent of localized aggressive periodontitis. In vitro, it can undergo fimbriated rough to nonfimbriated smooth phenotypic transition, accompanied by an increase in invasive ability and a decrease in adhesive ability. No opposite direction phenotypic transition was reported. To better understand its pathogenicity, the authors studied the morphological changes of nonfimbriated smooth strains induced by growth environmental humidity. Transmission electron microscopy was used to identify fimbriae expression change. It was found that the lower medium humidity, the more fimbriae reexpressed. In conclusion, the smooth strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans can reexpress the fimbriae in lower humidity environment.
ISSN:0191-3123
1521-0758
DOI:10.3109/01913123.2012.745637