Glycobiology of a novel Tannerella species
Glycobiology of a novel Tannerella species
Disciplines
Biology (100%)
Keywords
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Novel Tannerella Species,
Tannerella forsythia,
Glycobiology,
Protein Glycosylation,
Periodontitis
The globally occurring gum disease periodontitis critically involves the pathogenic bacterium Tannerella forsythia acting as a late colonizer of a polymicrobial biofilm, commonly known as dental plaque. We found that this bacterium has a unique cell surface protein glycosylation, which underpins its pathogenicity by influencing the relationship with other biofilm bacteria and the host through dedicated glycobiological and glycoimmunological interactions; a specific sugar acid (nonulosonic acid) seems to be pivotal to these interactions. A comparison of all publicly available genome sequences of periodontitis-associated T. forsythia strains revealed the presence of a distinct gene cluster that underlays protein glycosylation. In contrast, the genome of the novel, putative periodontal health-associated Tannerella species BU063, which is the closest phylogenetic relative to T. forsythia, has a different glycosylation gene cluster lacking genes for sugar acid biosynthesis. We hypothesize that an altered glycome contributes to the difference of periodontal pathogenesis by Tannerella sp. BU063 and provides a new foundation to further understand the genome evolution and mechanisms of bacteria-host interaction in closely related oral microbes with different pathogenicity potential. Initial data indicate differences in surface-layer protein glycosylation and immunogenicity of Tannerella sp. BU063 compared to T. forsythia. Our novel procedures for cultivation and genetic manipulation of Tannerella sp. BU063 make detailed glycobiological investigations possible. We will investigate the glycoinfrastructure of the Tannerella sp. BU063 cell envelope and determine possible implications for the bacterium`s biofilm lifestyle and interaction with the host. Methods include anaerobic bacterial cultivation, mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) for glycan structure elucidation, glycoproteomics, genetic manipulation, immune response profiling, biofilm techniques, and imaging. This project generates glycobiology information on a novel oral Tannerella species and aims at delineating glycobiology-mediated mechanisms that could support the association of this bacterium with periodontal health. In relation to the glycobiology knowledge of the pathogenic relative T. forsythia, this project might provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of periodontitis and pinpoint novel therapeutic and prophylaxis approaches against the disease. It also furthers our knowledge on the Bacteroidetes phylum, to which Tannerella species are affiliated, since this bacterial phylum is prominent not only in the oral but also in the gut microbiome. This project is a collaboration between Christina Schäffer (principal investigator; microbiology, glycobiology, biofilm, imaging), Friedrich Altmann (MS), Markus Blaukopf (NMR), all Universität für Bodenkultur, Vienna, Austria, Oleh Andrukhov (immunology; Medical University, Vienna, Austria), and Georgios N. Belibasakis (interaction studies with selected host cells; Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden).
- Oleh Yakovych Andrukhov, Medizinische Universität Wien , national collaboration partner
- Friedrich Altmann, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien , national collaboration partner
- Markus Blaukopf, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien , national collaboration partner
Research Output
- 37 Citations
- 8 Publications
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2024
Title Investigating the role of a Tannerella forsythia HtrA protease in host protein degradation and inflammatory response DOI 10.3389/froh.2024.1425937 Type Journal Article Author Bloch S Journal Frontiers in Oral Health Pages 1425937 Link Publication -
2024
Title Red-complex bacteria exhibit distinctly different interactions with human periodontal ligament stromal cells compared to Fusobacterium nucleatum DOI 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2024.106004 Type Journal Article Author Kendlbacher F Journal Archives of Oral Biology Pages 106004 Link Publication -
2024
Title Glycolanguage of the oral microbiota DOI 10.1111/omi.12456 Type Journal Article Author Hager-Mair F Journal Molecular Oral Microbiology Pages 291-320 Link Publication -
2024
Title Oral streptococci: modulators of health and disease DOI 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1357631 Type Journal Article Author Bloch S Journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Pages 1357631 Link Publication -
2023
Title Multispecies biofilm behavior and host interaction support the association of Tannerella serpentiformis with periodontal health DOI 10.5167/uzh-223931 Type Other Author Bloch -
2021
Title Mutanobactin D from the Human Microbiome: Total Synthesis, Configurational Assignment, and Biological Evaluation DOI 10.1021/jacs.1c04825 Type Journal Article Author Pultar F Journal Journal of the American Chemical Society Pages 10389-10402 -
2022
Title Multispecies biofilm behavior and host interaction support the association of Tannerella serpentiformis with periodontal health DOI 10.1111/omi.12385 Type Journal Article Author Kendlbacher F Journal Molecular Oral Microbiology Pages 115-133 Link Publication -
2022
Title Shut-Down of Type IX Protein Secretion Alters the Host Immune Response to Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis DOI 10.3389/fcimb.2022.835509 Type Journal Article Author Braun M Journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Pages 835509 Link Publication