SARS-CoV-2 detection in pediatric dental clinic wastewater reflects the number of local COVID-19 cases in children under 10 years old.

This was the first longitudinal study to analyze dental clinic wastewater to estimate asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection trends in children. We monitored wastewater over a 14-month period, spanning three major COVID-19 waves driven by the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants. Each Saturday, wastewater was sampled at the Pediatric Dental Clinic of the only dental hospital in Japan's Saitama Prefecture. The relationship between the weekly number of cases in Saitama Prefecture among residents aged < 10 years (exposure) and wastewater SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection (outcome) was examined. The number of cases was significantly associated with wastewater SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity (risk ratio, 5.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.72-16.67; Fisher's exact test, p = 0.0005). A sample from Week 8 of 2022 harbored the Omicron variant. Compared to sporadic individual testing, this approach allows continuous population-level surveillance, which is less affected by healthcare seeking and test availability. Since wastewater from pediatric dental clinics originates from the oral cavities of asymptomatic children, such testing can provide important information regarding asymptomatic COVID-19 in children, complementing clinical pediatric data.

Extracellular histones promote calcium phosphate-dependent calcification in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells.

Vascular calcification, a major risk factor for cardiovascular events, is associated with a poor prognosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This process is often associated with the transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into cells with osteoblast-like characteristics. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as extracellular histones released from damaged or dying cells, are suspected to accumulate at calcification sites. To investigate the potential involvement of DAMPs in vascular calcification, we assessed the impact of externally added histones (extracellular histones) on calcium and inorganic phosphate-induced calcification in mouse VSMCs. Our study found that extracellular histones intensified calcification. We also observed that the histones decreased the expression of VSMC marker genes while simultaneously increasing the expression of osteoblast marker genes. Additionally, histones treated with DNase I, which degrades dsDNA, attenuated this calcification, compared with the non-treated histones, suggesting a potential involvement of dsDNA in this process. Elevated levels of dsDNA were also detected in the serum of CKD model mice, underlining its potential role in vascular calcification in CKD. Our findings suggest that extracellular histones could play a pivotal role in the vascular calcification observed in CKD.

Suppression of Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation and Gene Expression by PRG Barrier Coat: A Molecular and Microscopic Study for Preventing Dental Caries.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of a PRG Barrier Coat on biofilm formation and structure by Streptococcus mutans and propose an effective method for preventing dental caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Streptococcus mutans MT8148 biofilms were obtained from hydroxyapatite disks with and with- out a PRG Barrier Coat. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the 12- and 24-h-cultured biofilms, while reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify caries-related genes. Biofilm adhe- sion assessments were performed on glass. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-sample t-test. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in Streptococcus mutans biofilm adhesion rate was observed between the con- trol and PRG Barrier Coat-coated samples (p < 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference in total bacter- ial count or biofilm volume (p > 0.05). SEM revealed that the PRG Barrier Coat inhibited biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans. Real-time RT-PCR revealed that the material restricted the expression of genes associated with caries-related bio- film formation. However, the suppression of gtfD and dexB differed from that of other genes. CONCLUSION: PRG Barrier Coat suppressed biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans by inhibiting the expression of in- soluble glucan synthase, which is associated with primary biofilm formation. The material also affected gene expression and altered the biofilm structure. Tooth surface-coating materials, such as PRG Barrier Coat, may improve caries preven- tion in dental practice.

Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Neuroinflammation in the Corpus Callosum of a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a widespread neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline, affecting a significant portion of the aging population. While the cerebral cortex and hippocampus have been the primary focus of AD research, accumulating evidence suggests that white matter lesions in the brain, particularly in the corpus callosum, play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the gene expression changes in the corpus callosum of 5xFAD transgenic mice, a widely used AD mouse model. METHODS: We conducted behavioral tests for spatial learning and memory in 5xFAD transgenic mice and performed RNA sequencing analyses on the corpus callosum to examine transcriptomic changes. RESULTS: Our results show cognitive decline and demyelination in the corpus callosum of 5xFAD transgenic mice. Transcriptomic analysis reveals a predominance of upregulated genes in AD mice, particularly those associated with immune cells, including microglia. Conversely, downregulation of genes related to chaperone function and clock genes such as Per1, Per2, and Cry1 is also observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that activation of neuroinflammation, disruption of chaperone function, and circadian dysfunction are involved in the pathogenesis of white matter lesions in AD. The findings provide insights into potential therapeutic targets and highlight the importance of addressing white matter pathology and circadian dysfunction in AD treatment strategies.

A New Method to Detect Variants of SARS-CoV-2 Using Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Combined with a Bioluminescent Assay in Real Time (RT-LAMP-BART).

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), of which there are several variants. The three major variants (Alpha, Delta, and Omicron) carry the N501Y, L452R, and Q493R/Q498R mutations, respectively, in the S gene. Control of COVID-19 requires rapid and reliable detection of not only SARS-CoV-2 but also its variants. We previously developed a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay combined with a bioluminescent assay in real time (RT-LAMP-BART) to detect the L452R mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In this study, we established LAMP primers and peptide nucleic acid probes to detect N501Y and Q493R/Q498R. The LAMP primer sets and PNA probes were designed for the N501Y and Q493R/Q498R mutations on the S gene of SARS-CoV-2. The specificities of RT-LAMP-BART assays were evaluated using five viral and four bacterial reference strains. The sensitivities of RT-LAMP-BART assays were evaluated using synthetic RNAs that included the target sequences, together with RNA-spiked clinical nasopharyngeal and salivary specimens. The results were compared with those of conventional real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. The method correctly identified N501Y and Q493R/Q498R. Within 30 min, the RT-LAMP-BART assays detected up to 100-200 copies of the target genes; conventional real-time RT-PCR required 130 min and detected up to 500-3000 copies. Surprisingly, the real-time RT-PCR for N501Y did not detect the BA.1 and BA.2 variants (Omicron) that exhibited the N501Y mutation. The novel RT-LAMP-BART assay is highly specific and more sensitive than conventional real-time RT-PCR. The new assay is simple, inexpensive, and rapid; thus, it can be useful in efforts to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

The findings of glucosyltransferase enzymes derived from oral streptococci.

Glucosyltransferase enzymes (Gtfs) distribute among some streptococcal species in oral cavity and are known as key enzymes contributing to the development of oral biofilm such as dental plaque. In 18 streptococcal species, 45 glucosyltransferase genes (gtf) are detected from genome database. Gtfs catalyze the synthesis of the glucans, which are polymers of glucose, from sucrose and they are main component of oral biofilm. Especially, the Gtfs from Streptococcus mutans are recognized as one of dental caries pathogens since they contribute to the formation of dental plaque and the establishment of S. mutans in the tooth surface. Therefore, Gtfs has been studied particularly by many researchers in the dentistry field to develop the anti- caries vaccine. However, it is not still accomplished. In these days, the phylogenetic and crystal structure analyses of Gtfs were performed and the study of Gtfs will enter new situation from the technique in the past old viewpoint. The findings from those analyses will affect the development of the anti-caries vaccine very much after this.　In this review, we summarize the findings of oral streptococcal Gtfs and consider the perspectives of the dental caries prevention which targeted Gtf.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and the L452R spike mutation using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification plus bioluminescent assay in real-time (RT-LAMP-BART).

The new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be fatal, and several variants of SARS-CoV-2 with mutations of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) have increased avidity for human cell receptors. A single missense mutation of U to G at nucleotide position 1355 (U1355G) in the spike (S) gene changes leucine to arginine (L452R) in the spike protein. This mutation has been observed in the India and California strains (B.1.617 and B.1.427/B.1.429, respectively). Control of COVID-19 requires rapid and reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, we established a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay plus a bioluminescent assay in real-time (BART) to detect SARS-CoV-2 and the L452R spike mutation. The specificity and sensitivity of the RT-LAMP-BART assay was evaluated using synthetic RNAs including target sequences and RNA-spiked clinical nasopharyngeal and saliva specimens as well as reference strains representing five viral and four bacterial pathogens. The novel RT-LAMP-BART assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 was highly specific compared to the conventional real-time RT-PCR. Within 25 min, the RT-LAMP-BART assay detected 80 copies of the target gene in a sample, whereas the conventional real-time RT-PCR method detected 5 copies per reaction within 130 min. Using RNA-spiked specimens, the sensitivity of the RT-LAMP-BART assay was slightly attenuated compared to purified RNA as a template. The results were identical to those of the conventional real-time RT-PCR method. Furthermore, using a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe, the RT-LAMP-BART method correctly identified the L452R spike mutation. This is the first report describes RT-LAMP-BART as a simple, inexpensive, rapid, and useful assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2, its variants of concern, and for screening of COVID-19.

Development of a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for ß-lactamase gene identification using clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria.

Rapid evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility is important in the treatment of nosocomial infections by Gram-negative bacteria, which increasingly carry carbapenemases and metallo-ß-lactamases. We developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based assays for four ß-lactamase genes (bla KPC, bla NDM-1, bla IMP-1 group, and bla VIM). The assays were evaluated using eight reference bacterial strains (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter bereziniae) harboring six ß-lactamase genes. A total of 55 Gram-negative bacterial strains, including 47 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates, fully characterized by next-generation sequencing (NGS), were used to evaluate the LAMP assays. The results were compared to those of conventional PCR. The LAMP assays were able to detect as few as 10 to 100 copies of a gene, compared to 10 to 104 copies for conventional PCR. The LAMP assay detected four ß-lactamase genes with a sensitivity similar to that using purified DNA as the template in DNA-spiked urine, sputum, and blood specimens. By contrast, the sensitivity of PCR was 1- to 100-fold lower with DNA-spiked clinical specimens. Therefore, the LAMP assays were proved to be an appropriate tool for the detection of four ß-lactamases.

Apparent diet digestibility of captive colobines in relation to stomach types with special reference to fibre digestion.

Colobine monkeys are known for the anatomical complexity of their stomachs, making them distinct within the primate order. Amongst foregut fermenters, they appear peculiar because of the occurrence of two different stomach types, having either three ('tripartite') or four ('quadripartite', adding the praesaccus) chambers. The functional differences between tri and quadripartite stomachs largely remain to be explained. In this study, we aim to compare the apparent digestibility (aD) in tripartite and quadripartite colobines. Hence, we measured the aD in two colobine species, Nasalis larvatus (quadripartite) and Trachypithecus cristatus (tripartite), in two zoos. We also included existing colobine literature data on the aD and analysed whether the aD of fibre components is different between the stomach types to test the hypothesis of whether quadripartite colobines show higher aD of fibre components than tripartite colobines did. Our captive N. larvatus specimen had a more distinctively varying nutrient intake across seasons with a larger seasonal variation in aD than that of a pair of T. cristatus, which mostly consumed commercial foods with a lower proportion of browse and less seasonal variation. We observed higher aD of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) in the N. larvatus specimen, suggesting a higher gut capacity of N. larvatus provided by the additional praesaccus forestomach chamber. Based on the analysis of literature data for aD, we also found that quadripartite species achieved higher fibre digestibility at similar dietary fibre levels compared with tripartite species, supporting the hypothesis that the additional gut capacity offered by the praesaccus facilitates a longer retention and hence more thorough microbial fermentation of plant fibre.

23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)-targeted serotype-specific identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method.

Reports of invasive disease due to Streptococcus pneumoniae have declined since the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV7 and PCV13). The incidence of invasive diseases due to S. pneumoniae that are not addressed by the vaccines, however, has increased in children and adults, creating a global public health problem. Previously, we established the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for a PCV13 serotype-specific assay. In the current study, we developed a rapid, simple, and cost-effective assay to detect serotypes in the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) using the LAMP method. In this study, LAMP primer sets for serotypes 2, 8, 9N, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 17F, 20, 22F, and 33F of S. pneumoniae were developed. The reactivity, specificity, and sensitivity of LAMP assays were determined and compared to those of conventional PCR. The feasibility of LAMP assays in clinical application in patients with invasive pneumococcal diseases was validated by defining the detection limit of the LAMP assay with bacterial genomic DNA-spiked blood specimens. The specificity of each LAMP assay was determined using 44 serotypes of pneumococcal strains. Their sensitivity was 100 copies per reaction versus 103 to 106 copies per reaction for PCR assays. Using DNA-spiked blood specimens, excluding the LAMP assay that targeted serotype 22F (103 copies per reaction), the limit of detection of the LAMP assay was similar to that with purified DNA as the template (102 copies per reaction), compared with 103 to >106 copies per reaction for PCR assays. In conclusion, a rapid and simple LAMP-based PPSV23-targeted serotype detection assay was developed for use in many countries. This study is the first report of a LAMP-based assay for identification of PPSV23 serotypes. Further evaluation of this assay is needed through surveillance and vaccine efficacy studies.

6-Deoxyjacareubin, a natural compound preventing hypoxia-induced cell death, ameliorates neurodegeneration in a mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The central nervous system (CNS) uses a significant amount of oxygen for energy production. Decreased oxygen supply due to impaired blood supply critically damages the CNS. As chronic hypoxic conditions have diverse effects via the excessive production of reactive oxygen species, protection from hypoxic damage is important for cell survival. Recent studies have revealed that various markers of hypoxia are altered in age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), indicating the involvement of hypoxia. However, therapeutic strategies targeting hypoxia-induced pathways in ALS have not been developed yet. We previously screened small-molecule compounds that inhibit hypoxia-induced cell death and identified 6-deoxyjacareubin. We hypothesized that the modulation of hypoxia signaling by 6-deoxyjacareubin might protect motor neurons in ALS. Here, we show that 6-deoxyjacareubin indeed ameliorates neurodegeneration in a mouse model of familial ALS. Administration of 6-deoxyjacareubin to this familial ALS model significantly attenuated disease progression and improved locomotor dysfunction. We also found that 6-deoxyjacareubin reduced motor neuron loss and glial activation. Our results indicate that 6-deoxyjacareubin might serve as a potential therapeutic tool for ALS. Moreover, these results suggest that modulation of hypoxia signaling pathways provides a promising strategy to develop therapies for other types of neurodegenerative diseases also characterized by hypoxia.

Susceptibility to erastin-induced ferroptosis decreases during maturation in a human oligodendrocyte cell line.

Ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death caused by lipid peroxidation, has been implicated in neurological and other disorders. However, the mechanism of ferroptosis in oligodendrocytes is unclear. We tested the susceptibility of MO3.13 cells, an oligodendrocyte line, to ferroptosis after erastin treatment. Immature MO3.13 cells were more susceptible to erastin-induced ferroptosis than chemically differentiated mature MO3.13 cells. Increased expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), which encodes a cystine/glutamate transporter, and greater glutathione concentrations were observed in mature compared with immature MO3.13 cells, linking glutathione to the resistance of mature MO3.13 cells to erastin-induced ferroptosis. These findings highlight the usefulness of immature MO3.13 cells in studies of ferroptosis and investigations into neuropathologies that involve oligodendrocytes.

Rapid and Accurate Species Identification of Mitis Group Streptococci Using the MinION Nanopore Sequencer.

Differentiation between mitis group streptococci (MGS) bacteria in routine laboratory tests has become important for obtaining accurate epidemiological information on the characteristics of MGS and understanding their clinical significance. The most reliable method of MGS species identification is multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with seven house-keeping genes; however, because this method is time-consuming, it is deemed unsuitable for use in most clinical laboratories. In this study, we established a scheme for identifying 12 species of MGS (S. pneumoniae, S. pseudopneumoniae, S. mitis, S. oralis, S. peroris, S. infantis, S. australis, S. parasanguinis, S. sinensis, S. sanguinis, S. gordonii, and S. cristatus) using the MinION nanopore sequencer (Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Oxford, UK) with the taxonomic aligner "What's in My Pot?" (WIMP; Oxford Nanopore's cloud-based analysis platform) and Kraken2 pipeline with the custom database adjusted for MGS species identification. The identities of the species in reference genomes (n = 514), clinical isolates (n = 31), and reference strains (n = 4) were confirmed via MLSA. The nanopore simulation reads were generated from reference genomes, and the optimal cut-off values for MGS species identification were determined. For 31 clinical isolates (S. pneumoniae = 8, S. mitis = 17 and S. oralis = 6) and 4 reference strains (S. pneumoniae = 1, S. mitis = 1, S. oralis = 1, and S. pseudopneumoniae = 1), a sequence library was constructed via a Rapid Barcoding Sequencing Kit for multiplex and real-time MinION sequencing. The optimal cut-off values for the identification of MGS species for analysis by WIMP and Kraken2 pipeline were determined. The workflow using Kraken2 pipeline with a custom database identified all 12 species of MGS, and WIMP identified 8 MGS bacteria except S. infantis, S. australis, S. peroris, and S. sinensis. The results obtained by MinION with WIMP and Kraken2 pipeline were consistent with the MGS species identified by MLSA analysis. The practical advantage of whole genome analysis using the MinION nanopore sequencer is that it can aid in MGS surveillance. We concluded that MinION sequencing with the taxonomic aligner enables accurate MGS species identification and could contribute to further epidemiological surveys.

Molecular serotype-specific identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae using loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

In children, the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis has decreased since the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7 and PCV13). However, since the introduction of the vaccine, developed countries have seen the emergence of non-PCV13 serotypes. However, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by PCV13-targeted serotypes still represents an important public health problem in resource-limited countries. To develop a rapid, simple, and cost-effective assay to detect serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, we developed a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay based on the sequences available for the 13 capsular types that are included in PCV13: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 A, 6B, 7 F, 9 V, 14, 18 C, 19 A, 19 F, and 23 F. We evaluated test reactivity, specificity, sensitivity and performance, and compared the results between established LAMP and conventional PCR assays. To support its clinical use, the detection limits of the LAMP assay were evaluated using bacterial genomic DNA-spiked cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood specimens. We confirmed the specificity of the LAMP assay using 41 serotypes of pneumococcal strains. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was 10 to 100 copies per reaction, compared to 10 to 104 copies per reaction for PCR assays. The detection limits of the LAMP assay were comparable when using DNA-spiked CSF and blood specimens, as compared to using purified DNA as the template. In conclusion, a rapid and simple LAMP-based pneumococcal serotyping method has been developed. This is the first report of a LAMP method for a PCV13 serotype-specific identification assay, which could be a promising step to facilitate epidemiological studies of pneumococcal serotyping.

Streptococcus mutans isolated from a 4-year-old girl diagnosed with infective endocarditis.

Objectives: Infective endocarditis (IE) has an extremely high fatality rate. In this study, we isolated a strain of Streptococcus mutans, which we called HM, from the blood drawn from a 4-year-old girl diagnosed with IE. We aimed to fully type the HM strain and investigate its biological properties, including its virulence with respect to IE. Material and methods: A 16S rRNA phylogenetic tree and glucosyltransferase gene sequences were used to type HM. Serotyping was performed using the Ouchterlony method. Morphological observations were made using phase contrast and electron microscopy. Fibrinogen adhesion and biofilm formation were investigated to examine the tissue colonization properties of HM, whereas its bodily origin was determined from its fingerprinting pattern. Results: The isolated strain was S. mutans serotype e. However, its morphology was observed to be short chains, unlike that of the NCTC 10449 reference strain. Fibrinogen adhesion and biofilm formation were more apparent than in NCTC 10449. The fingerprinting pattern showed that HM came from the patient's saliva. Conclusions: HM differs from NCTC 10449 in its higher fibrinogen affinity. HM was also found to be derived from the oral cavity. These results highlight the importance of good oral hygiene for the prevention of IE in children.

Recent Progress of Basic Studies of Natural Products and Their Dental Application.

The present article reviews the research progress of three major polyphenols (tannins, flavonoids and lignin carbohydrate complexes), chromone (backbone structure of flavonoids) and herbal extracts. Chemical modified chromone derivatives showed highly specific toxicity against human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, with much lower toxicity against human oral keratinocytes, as compared with various anticancer drugs. QSAR analysis suggests the possible correlation between their tumor-specificity and three-dimensional molecular shape. Condensed tannins in the tea extracts inactivated the glucosyltransferase enzymes, involved in the biofilm formation. Lignin-carbohydrate complexes (prepared by alkaline extraction and acid-precipitation) and crude alkaline extract of the leaves of Sasa species (SE, available as an over-the-counter drug) showed much higher anti-HIV activity, than tannins, flavonoids and Japanese traditional medicine (Kampo). Long-term treatment with SE and several Kampo medicines showed an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in small size of clinical trials. Although the anti-periodontitis activity of synthetic angiotensin II blockers has been suggested in many papers, natural angiotensin II blockers has not yet been tested for their possible anti-periodontitis activity. There should be still many unknown substances that are useful for treating the oral diseases in the natural kingdom.

Involvement of PorK, a component of the type IX secretion system, in Prevotella melaninogenica pathogenicity.

Prevotella melaninogenica is a gram-negative anaerobic commensal bacterium that resides in the human oral cavity and is isolated as a pathogen of suppurative diseases both inside and outside the mouth. However, little is known about the pathogenic factors of P. melaninogenica. The periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tanerella forsythia secrete virulence factors such as protease and bacterial cell surface proteins via a type IX secretion system (T9SS) that are involved in pathogenicity. P. melaninogenica also possesses all known orthologs of T9SS. In this study, a P. melaninogenica GAI 07411 mutant deficient in the orthologue of the T9SS-encoding gene, porK, was constructed. Hemagglutination and biofilm formation were decreased in the porK mutant. Furthermore, following growth on skim milk-containing medium, the diameters of the halos surrounding the porK mutant were smaller than those of the wild-type strain, suggesting a decrease in secretion of proteases outside the bacterium. To investigate this in detail, culture supernatants of wild-type and porK mutant strains were purified and compared by two-dimensional electrophoresis. In the mutant strain, fewer spots were detected, indicating fewer secreted proteins. In infection experiments, the mortality rate of mice inoculated with the porK mutant strain was significantly lower than in the wild-type strain. These results suggest that P. melaninogenica secretes potent virulence factors via the T9SS that contribute to its pathogenic ability.

Porphyromonas gingivalis hydrogen sulfide enhances methyl mercaptan-induced pathogenicity in mouse abscess formation.

Porphyromonas gingivalis produces hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from l-cysteine. However, the role of H2S produced by P. gingivalis in periodontal inflammation is unclear. In this study, we identified the enzyme that catalyses H2S production from l-cysteine and analysed the role of H2S using a mouse abscess model. The enzyme identified was identical to methionine γ-lyase (PG0343), which produces methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) from l-methionine. Therefore, we analysed H2S and CH3SH production by P. gingivalis W83 and a PG0343-deletion mutant (ΔPG0343) with/without l-cysteine and/or l-methionine. The results indicated that CH3SH is produced constitutively irrespective of the presence of l-methionine, while H2S was greatly increased by both P. gingivalis W83 and ΔPG0343 in the presence of l-cysteine. In contrast, CH3SH production by ΔPG0343 was absent irrespective of the presence of l-methionine, and H2S production was eliminated in the absence of l-cysteine. Thus, CH3SH and H2S production involves different substrates, l-methionine or l-cysteine, respectively. Based on these characteristics, we analysed the roles of CH3SH and H2S in abscess formation in mice by P. gingivalis W83 and ΔPG0343. Abscess formation by P. gingivalis W83, but not ΔPG0343, differed significantly in the presence and absence of l-cysteine. In addition, the presence of l-methionine did not affect the size of abscesses generated by P. gingivalis W83 and ΔPG0343. Therefore, we conclude that H2S produced by P. gingivalis does not induce inflammation; however, H2S enhances inflammation caused by CH3SH. Thus, these results suggest the H2S produced by P. gingivalis plays a supportive role in inflammation caused by methionine γ-lyase.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Clinical Isolate of Streptococcus mutans Strain HM.

We report the draft genome sequence of Streptococcus mutans strain HM isolated from a 4-year-old girl with infective endocarditis. The genomics information will provide information on the genetic diversity and virulence potential of S. mutans strain HM.

Complete Genome Sequence of Streptococcus sp. Strain NPS 308.

Streptococcus sp. strain NPS 308, isolated from an 8-year-old girl diagnosed with infective endocarditis, likely presents a novel species of Streptococcus Here, we present a complete genome sequence of this species, which will contribute to better understanding of the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis.