Abstract
BackgroundTreponema denticola is an oral spirochete involved in the pathogenesis and progression of periodontal disease. Of its virulence factors, the major surface protein (MSP) plays a role in the interaction between the treponeme and host. To understand the possible evolution of this protein, we analyzed the sequence of the msp gene in 17 T. denticola positive clinical samples.MethodsNucleotide and amino acid sequence of MSP have been determined by PCR amplification and sequencing in seventeen T. denticola clinical specimens to evaluate the genetic variability and the philogenetic relationship of the T. denticola msp gene among the different amplified sequence of positive samples. In silico antigenic analysis was performed on each MSP sequences to determined possible antigenic variation.ResultsThe msp sequences showed two highly conserved 5' and 3' ends and a central region that varies substantially. Phylogenetic analysis categorized the 17 specimens into 2 principal groups, suggesting a low rate of evolutionary variability and an elevated degree of conservation of msp in clinically derived genetic material. Analysis of the predicted antigenic variability between isolates, demonstrated that the major differences lay between amino acids 200 and 300.ConclusionThese findings showed for the first time, the nucleotide and amino acids variation of the msp gene in infecting T. denticola, in vivo. This data suggested that the antigenic variability found in to the MSP molecule, may be an important factor involved in immune evasion by T. denticola.
Highlights
Treponema denticola is an oral spirochete involved in the pathogenesis and progression of periodontal disease
Nucleotides and amino acids variability of the Major Surface Protein coding sequence The entire msp gene (ORF) derived from 17 T. denticola positive samples, obtained from Periodontitis patients, was amplified by PCR and sequenced in order to determine the extent of sequence variability
In Group B, the homology was greater than 98% (Figure 2). These results confirmed for the clinical samples, the findings reported by Fenno and co-workers, and obtained with the two laboratory adapted strains of T. denticola ATCC35405 and ATCC33520 [14], that the highest amino acidic variability lays in the central region of major surface protein (MSP)
Summary
Treponema denticola is an oral spirochete involved in the pathogenesis and progression of periodontal disease. As hypothesized for the Tprk antigen of T. pallidum that undergoes nucleotide variation following serial passages of T. pallidum in rabbit [16], we analyzed the nucleotide and amino acids variation of the msp gene in, in vivo infecting T. denticola. Based on these considerations, we analyzed the sequence of the msp gene in 17 clinical samples from acute periodontitis patients who were positive for T. denticola by real-time PCR [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
