BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Distinct bacteriocin groups correlate with different groups of Streptococcus mutans plasmids. 1985

P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen

A correlation between the presence of 5.6-kilobase plasmids and bacteriocin activity was found in human-derived strains of Streptococcus mutans. Compared with bacteriocin activity of randomly selected clinical isolates of plasmid-negative strains, bacteriocin activity of plasmid-positive strains significantly inhibited not only two laboratory strains of S. mutans, OMZ176 and AHT (P less than 0.0001 and P = 0.038, respectively), but most plasmid-negative clinical isolates as well (P = 0.0005). Comparisons of inhibition between pairs of plasmid-positive strains revealed two groups, group I and group II, that produced distinct bacteriocins we designated as mutacin I and mutacin II, respectively. Within each group, a strain produced inhibitory activity against all the members of the other group but against no members of its own group. Plasmid DNA from plasmid-positive strains of each group was isolated and analyzed by restriction endonuclease digestion. Plasmids from the two groups that were apparently identical in size differed in digestion patterns for EcoRI, HaeIII, and TaqI, even though six TaqI fragments appeared to be common to all. Based on bacteriocin profiles and restriction enzyme digests, two distinct groups of plasmid-positive S. mutans strains emerged. Although the bacteriocin activity of plasmid-positive strain LM7 (serotype e) placed it in group I, clear differences in restriction digests distinguished it from the other plasmid-containing strains.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010957 Plasmids Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS. Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D004262 DNA Restriction Enzymes Enzymes that are part of the restriction-modification systems. They catalyze the endonucleolytic cleavage of DNA sequences which lack the species-specific methylation pattern in the host cell's DNA. Cleavage yields random or specific double-stranded fragments with terminal 5'-phosphates. The function of restriction enzymes is to destroy any foreign DNA that invades the host cell. Most have been studied in bacterial systems, but a few have been found in eukaryotic organisms. They are also used as tools for the systematic dissection and mapping of chromosomes, in the determination of base sequences of DNAs, and have made it possible to splice and recombine genes from one organism into the genome of another. EC 3.21.1. Restriction Endonucleases,DNA Restriction Enzyme,Restriction Endonuclease,Endonuclease, Restriction,Endonucleases, Restriction,Enzymes, DNA Restriction,Restriction Enzyme, DNA,Restriction Enzymes, DNA
D004269 DNA, Bacterial Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of bacteria. Bacterial DNA
D001430 Bacteriocins Substances elaborated by specific strains of bacteria that are lethal against other strains of the same or related species. They are protein or lipopolysaccharide-protein complexes used in taxonomy studies of bacteria. Bacteriocin,Lantibiotic,Lantibiotics
D013295 Streptococcus mutans A polysaccharide-producing species of STREPTOCOCCUS isolated from human dental plaque.

Related Publications

P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
Different bacteriocin activities of Streptococcus mutans reflect distinct phylogenetic lineages.
November 2002, Journal of medical microbiology,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
Distinct groups of plasmids correlated with bacteriocin production in Staphylococcus aureus.
August 1990, Journal of general microbiology,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
Bacteriocin typing of Streptococcus mutans strains isolated from family groups.
October 1980, Australian dental journal,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
[Bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus mutans].
September 1976, Kokubyo Gakkai zasshi. The Journal of the Stomatological Society, Japan,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
Streptococcus mutans: classification in bacteriocin-types.
July 1991, Microbiologica,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
[Detection of plasmids in Streptococcus mutans].
March 1988, Zhonghua kou qiang yi xue za zhi = Zhonghua kouqiang yixue zazhi = Chinese journal of stomatology,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
Bacteriocin types of Streptococcus mutans in human mouths.
December 1975, Archives of oral biology,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
Isolation and characterization of a Streptococcus mutans bacteriocin inhibitor from Streptococcus pyogenes.
May 1978, Infection and immunity,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
Characterization of plasmids in bacteriocin producing strains of Streptococcus faecium.
November 1978, Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene. Erste Abteilung Originale. Reihe A: Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Parasitologie,
P W Caufield, and N K Childers, and D N Allen, and J B Hansen
Isolation of a Streptococcus mutans strain producing a novel bacteriocin.
April 1984, Infection and immunity,
Copied contents to your clipboard!