Streptococcus salivarius

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Streptococcus salivarius

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Firmicutes; Bacilli; Lactobacillales; Streptococcaceae; Streptococcus; Streptococcus salivarius

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Streptococcus salivarius

Description and significance

Streptococcus salivarius is the principal commensal bacterium of the oral cavity in healthy humans. Normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract - trauma (dental work, brushing teeth, etc.) results in organisms entering into the blood stream. It is the first bacterium which colonizes the dental plaque, before being joined by numerous other species of various genera. It therefore seems to be the pioneer in colonizing dental plaque, creating favorable conditions for the implantation of other species, but also a bacterium which plays the role of moderator, permitting the implantation of bacteria which are harmful to the health of the oral cavity.

A better knowledge of the molecular and physiologic factors which allow it to colonize dental plaque and to interact with other species will help in designing strategies for the prevention of cavities, especially in children.

Genome structure

Not much is known about the genome of Streptococcus salivarius other than its genome size is estimated to be 1800kb long. Its genome is yet to be sequenced [6], but it is in progress. But a closely related species of S. salivarius, S. thermophilus has been sequenced. Its genome size has been determined to be 1796kb on a single circular chromosome [7]. S. thermophilus is a lactic acid bacterium used for making milk and yogurt in the dairy industry. It is important to sequence S. thermopilus because it is phylogenetically close to pathogenic streptococci. The genome was sequenced using random shotgun sequencing and followed up by multiplex PCR [7].

S. thermophilus has a 39% G-C content, 6 Ribosomal RNA's, and 67 tRNA's [7]. It is also known that 10% of the genes are not functional due to frameshifts, nonsense mutations, deletions, or pseudogenes. Frameshifts can occur in a genenome when 1 or 2 nucleotides are deleted or inserted next to each other. This would cause a shift in the reading frame, the frame in which DNA gets transcribed into RNA. A pseudogene is a gene where it becomes transcribed and translated but it has no functional capabilities. Moreover, 30% of their genome is dedicated to energy metabolism and 60% to atypical, phages, and transposons [7]. Transposons are given the name "jumping genes" or mobile genetic elements because of their ability to move around in the genome. They may cause mutation and they may increase the amount of DNA in the genome.

Cell structure and metabolism

S. salivarius is a Gram-positive cocci. Approximately 2 µm in length. They usually occur in pairs and short chains. They are facultative anaerobe and either non- or alpha hemolytic on blood agar.

S. salivarius contains fimbriae on their cell surface. Fimbriae are hair-like appendages that are composed of protein subunits with diameters ranging from 2-8 nm. Fimbriae are involved in coaggregation of S. salivarius with the periodontopathogen Prevotella intermeida.

Ecology

The hydrolysis of urea by urease enzymes of oral bacteria like, Steptococcus salivarius, has a major impact on oral microbial ecology and to be intimately involved in oral health and diseases. The ability to genetically engineer plaque bacteria that can modulate environmental pH through ureolysis will open the way to using S. salivarius to test hypotheses regarding the role of oral ureolysis in dental caries, calculus formation, and periodontal diseases. This organism may eventually prove useful for controlling dental caries by replacement therapy.

Pathology

Diseases may be caused if S. salivarius enters the blood stream. Usually occurs by dental work or brushing teeth.

Streptococcuss salivarius is infrequently pathogenic. Viridans streptococci species cause most dental caries and are the most frequent cause of subacute native valve bacterial endocarditis, typically associated with dental procedures. S. salivarius may cause septicemia in neutropenic patients.

Application to Biotechnology

Streptococcus salivarius secretes a glucosltransferase (Gtf) which froms a glucan from sucrose. S. Salivarius is one of the main sources of Gtf in saliva and in the acquired pellicle is believed to be from S. salivarius resident on the dorsum of the tongue. Gtfs incorporated in the pellicle are known to be active and to form glucans to which other oral streptococci, such as the mutans streptococci, are able to adhere. Thus, Gtfs produced by S. salivarius at sites distant from the tooth surface may aid in the initial attachment or entrapment of other oral species on newly erupted tooth surfaces or on tooth surfaces following prophylaxis. [3]

Also secretes an enzyme named urease. Urease can catalyze the hydrolysis of urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Current Research

A new research found results that suggest Gram-positive micro-organisms such as S. salivarius contribute to oral malodor production by deglycosylating salivary glycoproteins, thus exposing their protein core to further degradation by Gram-negative micro-organisms. Studies show a direct link between low levels of Streptococcus salivarius in the mouth throat and tonsils and the development of halitosis.

References

[1] Chen, YY. "Streptococcus salivarius urease: genetic and biochemical characterization and expression in a dental plaque streptococcus." Infection and Immunity.1996.Volume 64 No.2. p. 585-592.

[2] Lévesque, Céline, ChristianVadeboncoeur, and MichelFrenette. "The csp operon of Streptococcus salivarius encodes two predicted cell-surface proteins, one of which, CspB, is associated with the fimbriae". Microbiology 150.2004. (Pt 1). p. 189-98.

[3] N. Sterer1, and M. Rosenberg "Streptococcus salivarius Promotes Mucin Putrefaction and Malodor Production by Porphyromonas gingivalis".2006.Journal of Dental Reserach. p. 910-914.

[3] Simpson, CL. "Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 25975 Possesses at Least Two Genes Coding for Primer-Independent Glucosyltransferases".Infection and Immunity.1995.Volume 63 No.2. p. 609-621.

[4] "MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES". "Public Health Agency of Canada". 2001.

[5] Streptococcus salivarius JIM8777, JIM8780: The principal inhabitant of the human oral cavity. Genoscope - Centre National de Séquençage. http://www.cns.fr/externe/English/Projets/Projet_MB/organisme_MB.html.

[6] Chastanet, A. "clpP of Streptococcus salivarius Is a Novel Member of the Dually Regulated Class of Stress Response Genes in Gram-Positive Bacteria." Journal of bacteriology.2003.Volume 185 No.2. p.683-687.

Edited by Artin Meserkhani, a student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano