Porphyromonas gingivalis induces penetration of lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan through the gingival epithelium via degradation of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major pathogen of human periodontitis and dysregulates innate immunity at the gingival epithelial surface. We previously reported that the bacterium specifically degrades junctional adhesion molecule 1 (JAM1), causing gingival epithelial barrier breakdown. However, the functions of other JAM family protein(s) in epithelial barrier dysregulation caused by P. gingivalis are not fully understood. The present results show that gingipains, Arg-specific or Lys-specific cysteine proteases produced by P. gingivalis, specifically degrade coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CXADR), a JAM family protein, at R145 and K235 in gingival epithelial cells. In contrast, a gingipain-deficient P. gingivalis strain was found to be impaired in regard to degradation of CXADR. Furthermore, knockdown of CXADR in artificial gingival epithelium increased permeability to dextran 40 kDa, lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, whereas overexpression of CXADR in a gingival epithelial tissue model prevented penetration by those agents following P. gingivalis infection. Together, these results suggest that P. gingivalis gingipains breach the stratified squamous epithelium barrier by degrading CXADR as well as JAM1, which allows for efficient transfer of bacterial virulence factors into subepithelial tissues. TAKEAWAYS: P. gingivalis, a periodontal pathogen, degraded coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CXADR), a JAM family protein, in gingival epithelial tissues. P. gingivalis gingipains, cysteine proteases, degraded CXADR at R145 and K235. CXADR degradation by P. gingivalis caused increased permeability to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan through gingival epithelial tissues.

Porphyromonas gingivalis induces penetration of lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan through the gingival epithelium via degradation of junctional adhesion molecule 1.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major pathogen in severe and chronic manifestations of periodontal disease, which is one of the most common infections of humans. A central feature of P. gingivalis pathogenicity is dysregulation of innate immunity at the gingival epithelial interface; however, the molecular basis underlying P. gingivalis-dependent abrogation of epithelial barrier function remains unknown. Gingival epithelial cells express junctional adhesion molecule (JAM1), a tight junction-associated protein, and JAM1 homodimers regulate epithelial barrier function. Here we show that Arg-specific or Lys-specific cysteine proteases (gingipains) secreted by P. gingivalis can specifically degrade JAM1 at K134 and R234 in gingival epithelial cells, resulting in permeability of the gingival epithelium to 40 kDa dextran, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and proteoglycan (PGN). A P. gingivalis strain lacking gingipains was impaired in degradation of JAM1. Knockdown of JAM1 in monolayer cells and a three-dimensional multilayered tissue model also increased permeability to LPS, PGN, and gingipains. Inversely, overexpression of JAM1 in epithelial cells prevented penetration by these agents following P. gingivalis infection. Our findings strongly suggest that P. gingivalis gingipains disrupt barrier function of stratified squamous epithelium via degradation of JAM1, allowing bacterial virulence factors to penetrate into subepithelial tissues.

Intracellular periodontal pathogen exploits recycling pathway to exit from infected cells.

Although human gingival epithelium prevents intrusions by periodontal bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, the most well-known periodontal pathogen, is able to invade gingival epithelial cells and pass through the epithelial barrier into deeper tissues. We previously reported that intracellular P. gingivalis exits from gingival epithelial cells via a recycling pathway. However, the underlying molecular process remains unknown. In the present study, we found that the pathogen localized in early endosomes recruits VAMP2 and Rab4A. VAMP2 was found to be specifically localized in early endosomes, although its localization remained unclear in mammalian cells. A single transmembrane domain of VAMP2 was found to be necessary and sufficient for localizing in early endosomes containing P. gingivalis in gingival epithelial cells. VAMP2 forms a complex with EXOC2/Sec5 and EXOC3/Sec6, whereas Rab4A mediates dissociation of the EXOC complex followed by recruitment of RUFY1/Rabip4, Rab4A effector, and Rab14. Depletion of VAMP2 or Rab4A resulted in accumulation of bacteria in early endosomes and disturbed bacterial exit from infected cells. It is suggested that these novel dynamics allow P. gingivalis to exploit fast recycling pathways promoting further bacterial penetration of gingival tissues.

Arginine-Ornithine Antiporter ArcD Controls Arginine Metabolism and Interspecies Biofilm Development of Streptococcus gordonii.

Arginine is utilized by the oral inhabitant Streptococcus gordonii as a substrate of the arginine deiminase system (ADS), eventually producing ATP and NH3, the latter of which is responsible for microbial resistance to pH stress. S. gordonii expresses a putative arginine-ornithine antiporter (ArcD) whose function has not been investigated despite relevance to the ADS and potential influence on inter-bacterial communication with periodontal pathogens that utilize amino acids as a main energy source. Here, we generated an S. gordonii ΔarcD mutant to explore the role of ArcD in physiological homeostasis and bacterial cross-feeding. First, we confirmed that S. gordonii ArcD plays crucial roles for mediating arginine uptake and promoting bacterial growth, particularly under arginine-limited conditions. Next, metabolomic profiling and transcriptional analysis of the ΔarcD mutant revealed that deletion of this gene caused intracellular accumulation of ornithine leading to malfunction of the ADS and suppression of de novo arginine biosynthesis. The mutant strain also showed increased susceptibility to low pH stress due to reduced production of ammonia. Finally, accumulation of Fusobacterium nucleatum was found to be significantly decreased in biofilm formed by the ΔarcD mutant as compared with the wild-type strain, although ornithine supplementation restored fusobacterium biovolume in dual-species biofilms with the ΔarcD mutant and also enhanced single species biofilm development by F. nucleatum. Our results are the first direct evidence showing that S. gordonii ArcD modulates not only alkali and energy production but also interspecies interaction with F. nucleatum, thus initiating a middle stage of periodontopathic biofilm formation, by metabolic cross-feeding.

Dual lifestyle of Porphyromonas gingivalis in biofilm and gingival cells.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is deeply involved in the pathogenesis of marginal periodontitis, and recent findings have consolidated its role as an important and unique pathogen. This bacterium has a unique dual lifestyle in periodontal sites including subgingival dental plaque (biofilm) and gingival cells, as it has been clearly shown that P. gingivalis is able to exert virulence using completely different tactics in each environment. Inter-bacterial cross-feeding enhances the virulence of periodontal microflora, and such metabolic and adhesive interplay creates a supportive environment for P. gingivalis and other species. Human oral epithelial cells harbor a large intracellular bacterial load, resembling the polymicrobial nature of periodontal biofilm. P. gingivalis can enter gingival epithelial cells and pass through the epithelial barrier into deeper tissues. Subsequently, from its intracellular position, the pathogen exploits cellular recycling pathways to exit invaded cells, by which it is able to control its population in infected tissues, allowing for persistent infection in gingival tissues. Here, we outline the dual lifestyle of P. gingivalis in subgingival areas and its effects on the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis promotes invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma through induction of proMMP9 and its activation.

Recent epidemiological studies have revealed a significant association between periodontitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Furthermore, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) is implicated in the invasion and metastasis of tumour cells. We examined the involvement of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a periodontal pathogen, in OSCC invasion through induced expression of proMMP and its activation. proMMP9 was continuously secreted from carcinoma SAS cells, while P. gingivalis infection increased proenzyme expression and subsequently processed it to active MMP9 in culture supernatant, which enhanced cellular invasion. In contrast, Fusobacterium nucleatum, another periodontal organism, failed to demonstrate such activities. The effects of P. gingivalis were observed with highly invasive cells, but not with the low invasivetype. P. gingivalis also stimulated proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and enhanced proMMP9 expression, which promoted cellular invasion. P. gingivalis mutants deficient in gingipain proteases failed to activate MMP9. Infected SAS cells exhibited activation of ERK1/2, p38, and NF-kB, and their inhibitors diminished both proMMP9-overexpression and cellular invasion. Together, our results show that P. gingivalis activates the ERK1/2-Ets1, p38/HSP27, and PAR2/NF-kB pathways to induce proMMP9 expression, after which the proenzyme is activated by gingipains to promote cellular invasion of OSCC cell lines. These findings suggest a novel mechanism of progression and metastasis of OSCC associated with periodontitis.

The polymicrobial pathogenicity of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Accumulating microbiome data and mechanistic studies in vitro and in vivo have refined our understanding of the oral microbiota as a functionally integrated polymicrobial community. Emergent properties of these communities are driven to a large extent by interspecies communication which can be based on physical association, secreted small molecules or nutritional exchange. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a consensus periodontal pathogen; however, virulence is only expressed in the context of a polymicrobial community. Multivalent fimbriae mediate attachment to other oral species which can initiate a distinct transcriptional program in both constituents of the binding pair. P. gingivalis also responds to small molecules and nutritional cues produced by partner organisms. Physiological interdependence forms the basis of complex networks of cooperating organisms which begin to resemble an organismal entity exhibiting a spectrum of pathogenic potential.

Curcumin inhibits growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis by arrest of bacterial dipeptidyl peptidase activity.

Background: Curcumin is a multi-functional polyphenol with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and may have potential for treatment of periodontal diseases. The present study was conducted to examine the molecular basis of the anti-bacterial effect of curcumin against Porphyromonas gingivalis using metabolome analysis. Materials and Methods: P. gingivalis were incubated with 10 µg/mL curcumin, and then metabolites were analyzed with CE-TOF/MS. Expression levels of sigma factors were also evaluated using RT-PCR assays. The activities of dipeptidyl peptidases (DPPs) were assessed by examining the degradation reactions of MCA-labeled peptides. Results: The relative amounts of various glycogenic amino acids were significantly decreased when P. gingivalis was incubated with curcumin. Furthermore, the metabolites on the amino acid degradation pathway, including high-energy compounds such as ATP, various intermediate metabolites of RNA/DNA synthesis, nucleoside sugars and amino sugars were also decreased. Additionally, the expression levels of sigma-54 and sigma-70 were significantly decreased, and the same results as noted following nutrient starvation. Curcumin also significantly suppressed the activities of some DPPs, while the human DPP-4 inhibitors markedly inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis and activities of the DPPs. Conclusions: Curcumin suppresses the growth of P. gingivalis by inhibiting DPPs and also interferes with nucleic acid synthesis and central metabolic pathways, beginning with amino acid metabolism.

Interspecies metabolite transfer fuels the methionine metabolism of Fusobacterium nucleatum to stimulate volatile methyl mercaptan production.

The major oral odor compound methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) is strongly associated with halitosis and periodontitis. CH3SH production stems from the metabolism of polymicrobial communities in periodontal pockets and on the tongue dorsum. However, understanding of CH3SH-producing oral bacteria and their interactions is limited. This study aimed to investigate CH3SH production by major oral bacteria and the impact of interspecies interactions on its generation. Using a newly constructed large-volume anaerobic noncontact coculture system, Fusobacterium nucleatum was found to be a potent producer of CH3SH, with that production stimulated by metabolic interactions with Streptococcus gordonii, an early dental plaque colonizer. Furthermore, analysis of extracellular amino acids using an S. gordonii arginine-ornithine antiporter (ArcD) mutant demonstrated that ornithine excreted from S. gordonii is a key contributor to increased CH3SH production by F. nucleatum. Further study with 13C, 15N-methionine, as well as gene expression analysis, revealed that ornithine secreted by S. gordonii increased the demand for methionine through accelerated polyamine synthesis by F. nucleatum, leading to elevated methionine pathway activity and CH3SH production. Collectively, these findings suggest that interaction between S. gordonii and F. nucleatum plays a key role in CH3SH production, providing a new insight into the mechanism of CH3SH generation in oral microbial communities. A better understanding of the underlying interactions among oral bacteria involved in CH3SH generation can lead to the development of more appropriate prophylactic approaches to treat halitosis and periodontitis. An intervention approach like selectively disrupting this interspecies network could also offer a powerful therapeutic strategy.IMPORTANCEHalitosis can have a significant impact on the social life of affected individuals. Among oral odor compounds, CH3SH has a low olfactory threshold and halitosis is a result of its production. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the collective properties of oral polymicrobial communities, regarded as important for the development of oral diseases, which are shaped by physical and metabolic interactions among community participants. However, it has yet to be investigated whether interspecies interactions have an impact on the production of volatile compounds, leading to the development of halitosis. The present findings provide mechanistic insights indicating that ornithine, a metabolite excreted by Streptococcus gordonii, promotes polyamine synthesis by Fusobacterium nucleatum, resulting in a compensatory increase in demand for methionine, which results in elevated methionine pathway activity and CH3SH production. Elucidation of the mechanisms related to CH3SH production is expected to lead to the development of new strategies for managing halitosis.

Identification and characterization of Porphyromonas gingivalis client proteins that bind to Streptococcus oralis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Coaggregation of Porphyromonas gingivalis and oral streptococci is thought to play an important role in P. gingivalis colonization. Previously, we reported that P. gingivalis major fimbriae interacted with Streptococcus oralis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and that amino acid residues 166 to 183 of GAPDH exhibited strong binding activity toward P. gingivalis fimbriae (H. Nagata, M. Iwasaki, K. Maeda, M. Kuboniwa, E. Hashino, M. Toe, N. Minamino, H. Kuwahara, and S. Shizukuishi, Infect. Immun. 77:5130-5138, 2009). The present study aimed to identify and characterize P. gingivalis components other than fimbriae that interact with S. oralis GAPDH. A pulldown assay was performed to detect potential interactions between P. gingivalis client proteins and S. oralis recombinant GAPDH with amino acid residues 166 to 183 deleted by site-directed mutagenesis. Seven proteins, namely, tonB-dependent receptor protein (RagA4), arginine-specific proteinase B, 4-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A dehydratase (AbfD), lysine-specific proteinase, GAPDH, NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH), were identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by proteomic analysis using tandem mass spectrometry. Interactions between these client proteins and S. oralis GAPDH were analyzed with a biomolecular interaction analysis system. S. oralis GAPDH showed high affinity for five of the seven client proteins (RagA4, AbfD, GAPDH, GDH, and MDH). Interactions between P. gingivalis and S. oralis were measured by a turbidimetric method and fluorescence microscopy. RagA4, AbfD, and GDH enhanced coaggregation, whereas GAPDH and MDH inhibited coaggregation. Furthermore, the expression of luxS in P. gingivalis was upregulated by RagA4, AbfD, and GDH but was downregulated by MDH. These results indicate that the five P. gingivalis client proteins function as regulators in P. gingivalis biofilm formation with oral streptococci.

Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilms persist after chlorhexidine treatment.

Chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate effectively reduces the viability of biofilm-forming bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis. However, it is impossible to completely remove biofilms. The goal of the present study was to assess the potential pathogenicity of residual P. gingivalis biofilms in vitro after treatment with CHX gluconate. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser imaging revealed that treatment with CHX gluconate disrupted individual biofilm-forming P. gingivalis cells but did not destroy the biofilms. The volumes of the protein and carbohydrate constituents in the residual biofilms were not significantly different from those of the controls. The physical resistance of the residual biofilms to ultrasonication was significantly higher than that of controls. The volume of P. gingivalis adherent to the residual biofilms was higher than that to saliva-coated wells. These findings suggest that although CHX gluconate caused disruption of biofilm-forming cells, the constituents derived from disrupted cells were maintained in the biofilms, which sustained their external structures. Moreover, the residual biofilms could serve as a scaffold for the formation of new biofilms.

Cigarette smoke extract impairs gingival epithelial barrier function.

We previously showed that junctional adhesion molecule 1 (JAM1) and coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CXADR), tight junction-associated proteins, have important roles to maintain epithelial barrier function in gingival tissues. Smoking is considered to be a significant risk factor for periodontal disease. The present study was conducted to examine the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on JAM1 and CXADR in human gingival epithelial cells. CSE was found to cause translocation of JAM1 from the cellular surface to EGFR-positive endosomes, whereas CXADR did not. Using a three-dimensional multilayered gingival epithelial tissue model, CSE administration was found to increase permeability to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, whereas overexpression of JAM1 in the tissue model prevented penetration by those substrates. Furthermore, vitamin C increased JAM1 expression, and inhibited penetration of LPS and PGN induced by CSE. These findings strongly suggest that CSE disrupts gingival barrier function via dislocation of JAM1, thus allowing bacterial virulence factors to penetrate into subepithelial tissues. Furthermore, they indicate that vitamin C increases JAM1 expression and prevents disruption of gingival barrier function by CSE.

Identification of signaling pathways mediating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis in human trophoblasts.

Epidemiological and interventional studies of humans have revealed a close association between periodontal diseases and preterm delivery of low-birth-weight infants. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a periodontal pathogen, can translocate to gestational tissues following oral-hematogenous spread. We previously reported that P. gingivalis invades extravillous trophoblast cells (HTR-8) derived from the human placenta and inhibits proliferation through induction of arrest in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle. The purpose of the present study was to identify signaling pathways mediating cellular impairment caused by P. gingivalis. Following P. gingivalis infection, the expression of Fas was induced and p53 accumulated, responses consistent with response to DNA damage. Ataxia telangiectasia- and Rad3-related kinase (ATR), an essential regulator of DNA damage checkpoints, was shown to be activated together with its downstream signaling molecule Chk2, while the p53 degradation-related protein MDM2 was not induced. The inhibition of ATR prevented both G(1) arrest and apoptosis caused by P. gingivalis in HTR-8 cells. In addition, small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of p53 abrogated both G(1) arrest and apoptosis. The regulation of apoptosis was associated with Ets1 activation. HTR-8 cells infected with P. gingivalis exhibited activation of Ets1, and knockdown of Ets1 with siRNA diminished both G(1) arrest and apoptosis. These results suggest that P. gingivalis activates cellular DNA damage signaling pathways that lead to G(1) arrest and apoptosis in trophoblasts.

Insights into the virulence of oral biofilms: discoveries from proteomics.

This review covers developments in the study of polymicrobial communities, biofilms and selected areas of host response relevant to dental plaque and related areas of oral biology. The emphasis is on recent studies in which proteomic methods, particularly those using mass spectrometry as a readout, have played a major role in the investigation. The last 5-10 years have seen a transition of such methods from the periphery of oral biology to the mainstream, as in other areas of biomedical science. For reasons of focus and space, the authors do not discuss biomarker studies relevant to improved diagnostics for oral health, as this literature is rather substantial in its own right and deserves a separate treatment. Here, global gene regulation studies of plaque-component organisms, biofilm formation, multispecies interactions and host-microbe interactions are discussed. Several aspects of proteomics methodology that are relevant to the studies of multispecies systems are commented upon.

Involvement of a periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis on the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome that is closely associated with multiple factors such as obesity, hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, other risk factors for the development of NAFLD are unclear. With the association between periodontal disease and the development of systemic diseases receiving increasing attention recently, we conducted this study to investigate the relationship between NAFLD and infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a major causative agent of periodontitis. METHODS: The detection frequencies of periodontal bacteria in oral samples collected from 150 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (102 with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and 48 with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) patients) and 60 non-NAFLD control subjects were determined. Detection of P. gingivalis and other periodontopathic bacteria were detected by PCR assay. In addition, effect of P. gingivalis-infection on mouse NAFLD model was investigated. To clarify the exact contribution of P. gingivalis-induced periodontitis, non-surgical periodontal treatments were also undertaken for 3 months in 10 NAFLD patients with periodontitis. RESULTS: The detection frequency of P. gingivalis in NAFLD patients was significantly higher than that in the non-NAFLD control subjects (46.7% vs. 21.7%, odds ratio: 3.16). In addition, the detection frequency of P. gingivalis in NASH patients was markedly higher than that in the non-NAFLD subjects (52.0%, odds ratio: 3.91). Most of the P. gingivalis fimbria detected in the NAFLD patients was of invasive genotypes, especially type II (50.0%). Infection of type II P. gingivalis on NAFLD model of mice accelerated the NAFLD progression. The non-surgical periodontal treatments on NAFLD patients carried out for 3 months ameliorated the liver function parameters, such as the serum levels of AST and ALT. CONCLUSIONS: Infection with high-virulence P. gingivalis might be an additional risk factor for the development/progression of NAFLD/NASH.

Profiling volatile compounds from culture supernatants of periodontal bacteria using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/olfactometry analysis with a monolithic silica gel adsorption device.

Halitosis is formed mainly by the volatile compounds produced by periodontal bacteria. Three volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, and dimethyl sulfide, have attracted attention as major components of halitosis. However, these compounds cannot account for all odors. In this study, we profiled volatile compounds from the culture supernatants of periodontal bacteria using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/olfactometry analysis with a monolithic silica gel adsorption device to investigate the potential odorous compounds. Periodontal bacteria have been found to produce volatile compounds belonging to various classes, such as alcohols, ketones, fatty acids, and aromatic compounds, in addition to VSCs. In addition, VSCs different from hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol, which are considered important causative compounds, may also influence to halitosis.

Surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer eluate protects gingival epithelium from penetration by lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycans via transcription factor EB pathway.

Surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler, produced by PRG technology for use with various dental materials, is bioactive and known to release ions from a glass-ionomer phase. We previously reported that coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CXADR), a tight junction associated protein, was located in the epithelial barrier of gingival epithelium. In the present study, the tissue protective effects of an S-PRG eluate prepared with S-PRG filler were investigated using a three-dimensional human gingival epithelial tissue model. The results showed that the S-PRG eluate specifically induced CXADR expression at the transcriptional level of messenger RNA as well as the protein level, and also nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) in gingival epithelial cells. Furthermore, shigyakusan, a TFEB inhibitor, canceled induction of the CXADR protein by the S-PRG eluate. Additionally, gingival epithelial permeation by 40-kDa dextran, lipopolysaccharide, and peptidoglycan in the 3D-tissue models was prevented by the eluate, with those effects abrogated by knockdown of CXADR. These findings suggest that S-PRG eluate increases CXADR expression via the TFEB pathway, thus inhibiting penetration of bacterial virulence factors into subepithelial tissues.

Fusobacterium nucleatum Metabolically Integrates Commensals and Pathogens in Oral Biofilms.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a common constituent of the oral microbiota in both periodontal health and disease. Previously, we discovered ornithine cross-feeding between F. nucleatum and Streptococcus gordonii, where S. gordonii secretes ornithine via an arginine-ornithine antiporter (ArcD), which in turn supports the growth and biofilm development of F. nucleatum; however, broader metabolic aspects of F. nucleatum within polymicrobial communities and their impact on periodontal pathogenesis have not been addressed. Here, we show that when cocultured with S. gordonii, F. nucleatum increased amino acid availability to enhance the production of butyrate and putrescine, a polyamine produced by ornithine decarboxylation. Coculture with Veillonella parvula, another common inhabitant of the oral microbiota, also increased lysine availability, promoting cadaverine production by F. nucleatum. We confirmed that ArcD-dependent S. gordonii-excreted ornithine induces synergistic putrescine production, and mass spectrometry imaging revealed that this metabolic capability creates a putrescine-rich microenvironment on the surface of F. nucleatum biofilms. We further demonstrated that polyamines caused significant changes in the biofilm phenotype of a periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, with putrescine accelerating the biofilm life cycle of maturation and dispersal. This phenomenon was also observed with putrescine derived from S. gordonii-F. nucleatum coculture. Lastly, analysis of plaque samples revealed cooccurrence of P. gingivalis with genetic modules for putrescine production by S. gordonii and F. nucleatum. Overall, our results highlight the ability of F. nucleatum to induce synergistic polyamine production within multispecies consortia and provide insight into how the trophic web in oral biofilm ecosystems can eventually shape disease-associated communities. IMPORTANCE Periodontitis is caused by a pathogenic shift in subgingival biofilm ecosystems, which is accompanied by alterations in microbiome composition and function, including changes in the metabolic activity of the biofilm, which comprises multiple commensals and pathogens. While Fusobacterium nucleatum is a common constituent of the supra- and subgingival biofilms, its metabolic integration within polymicrobial communities and the impact on periodontal pathogenesis are poorly understood. Here, we report that amino acids supplied by other commensal bacteria induce polyamine production by F. nucleatum, creating polyamine-rich microenvironments. Polyamines reportedly have diverse functions in bacterial physiology and possible involvement in periodontal pathogenesis. We show that the F. nucleatum-integrated trophic network yielding putrescine from arginine through ornithine accelerates the biofilm life cycle of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a periodontal pathogen, from the planktonic state through biofilm formation to dispersal. This work provides insight into how cooperative metabolism within oral biofilms can tip the balance toward periodontitis.

Salivary metabolic signatures of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized for treatment.

Atherosclerosis is a life-threatening disease associated with morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to characterize a salivary signature of atherosclerosis based on evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) to develop a non-invasive predictive tool for diagnosis and disease follow-up. Metabolites in saliva and plasma samples collected at admission and after treatment from 25 T2D patients hospitalized for 2 weeks to undergo medical treatment for diabetes were comprehensively profiled using metabolomic profiling with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Orthogonal partial least squares analysis, used to explore the relationships of IMT with clinical markers and plasma and salivary metabolites, showed that the top predictors for IMT included salivary allantoin and 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) at both the baseline examination at admission and after treatment. Furthermore, though treatment induced alterations in salivary levels of allantoin and 1,5-AG, it did not modify the association between IMT and these metabolites (p interaction > 0.05), and models with these metabolites combined yielded satisfactory diagnostic accuracy for the high IMT group even after treatment (area under curve = 0.819). Collectively, this salivary metabolite combination may be useful for non-invasive identification of T2D patients with a higher atherosclerotic burden in clinical settings.

Potential of Prebiotic D-Tagatose for Prevention of Oral Disease.

Recent studies have shown phenotypic and metabolic heterogeneity in related species including Streptococcus oralis, a typical oral commensal bacterium, Streptococcus mutans, a cariogenic bacterium, and Streptococcus gordonii, which functions as an accessory pathogen in periodontopathic biofilm. In this study, metabolites characteristically contained in the saliva of individuals with good oral hygiene were determined, after which the effects of an identified prebiotic candidate, D-tagatose, on phenotype, gene expression, and metabolic profiles of those three key bacterial species were investigated. Examinations of the saliva metabolome of 18 systemically healthy volunteers identified salivary D-tagatose as associated with lower dental biofilm abundance in the oral cavity (Spearman's correlation coefficient; r = -0.603, p = 0.008), then the effects of D-tagatose on oral streptococci were analyzed in vitro. In chemically defined medium (CDM) containing D-tagatose as the sole carbohydrate source, S. mutans and S. gordonii each showed negligible biofilm formation, whereas significant biofilms were formed in cultures of S. oralis. Furthermore, even in the presence of glucose, S. mutans and S. gordonii showed growth suppression and decreases in the final viable cell count in a D-tagatose concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, no inhibitory effects of D-tagatose on the growth of S. oralis were observed. To investigate species-specific inhibition by D-tagatose, the metabolomic profiles of D-tagatose-treated S. mutans, S. gordonii, and S. oralis cells were examined. The intracellular amounts of pyruvate-derived amino acids in S. mutans and S. gordonii, but not in S. oralis, such as branched-chain amino acids and alanine, tended to decrease in the presence of D-tagatose. This phenomenon indicates that D-tagatose inhibits growth of those bacteria by affecting glycolysis and its downstream metabolism. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that D-tagatose is abundant in saliva of individuals with good oral health. Additionally, experimental results demonstrated that D-tagatose selectively inhibits growth of the oral pathogens S. mutans and S. gordonii. In contrast, the oral commensal S. oralis seemed to be negligibly affected, thus highlighting the potential of administration of D-tagatose as an oral prebiotic for its ability to manipulate the metabolism of those targeted oral streptococci.