Using a bacterial pathogen-induced acute inflammation model in the skin, we defined the roles of local lymphatic vessels and draining lymph nodes (DLNs) in antigen clearance and inflammation resolution. At the peak day of inflammation, robust expansion of lymphatic vessels and profound infiltration of CD11b ؉ /Gr-1 ؉ macrophages into the inflamed skin and DLN were observed. Moreover, lymph flow and inflammatory cell migration from the inflamed skin to DLNs were enhanced. Concomitantly, the

Fusobacterium nucleatum, a Gram‐negative oral anaerobe, is a significant contributor to colorectal cancer. Using an in vitro cancer progression model, we discover that F. nucleatum stimulates the growth of colorectal cancer cells without affecting the pre‐cancerous adenoma cells. Annexin A1, a previously unrecognized modulator of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling, is a key component through which F. nucleatum exerts its stimulatory effect. Annexin A1 is specifically expressed in proliferating colorectal cancer cells and involved in activation of Cyclin D1. Its expression level in colon cancer is a predictor of poor prognosis independent of cancer stage, grade, age, and sex. The FadA adhesin from F. nucleatum up‐regulates Annexin A1 expression through E‐cadherin. A positive feedback loop between FadA and Annexin A1 is identified in the cancerous cells, absent in the non‐cancerous cells. We therefore propose a “two‐hit” model in colorectal carcinogenesis, with somatic mutation(s) serving as the first hit, and F. nucleatum as the second hit exacerbating cancer progression after benign cells become cancerous. This model extends the “adenoma‐carcinoma” model and identifies microbes such as F. nucleatum as cancer “facilitators”.

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Dental caries is a biofilm-dependent oral disease and Streptococcus mutans is the known primary etiologic agent of dental caries that initiates biofilm formation on tooth surfaces. Although some Lactobacillus strains inhibit biofilm formation of oral pathogenic bacteria, the molecular mechanisms by which lactobacilli inhibit bacterial biofilm formation are not clearly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum lipoteichoic acid (Lp.LTA) inhibited the biofilm formation of S. mutans on polystyrene plates, hydroxyapatite discs, and dentin slices without affecting the bacterial growth. Lp.LTA interferes with sucrose decomposition of S. mutans required for the production of exopolysaccharide, which is a main component of biofilm. Lp.LTA also attenuated the biding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran to S. mutans, which is known to have a high affinity to exopolysaccharide on S. mutans. Dealanylated Lp.LTA did not inhibit biofilm formation of S. mutans implying that D-alanine moieties in the Lp.LTA structure were crucial for inhibition. Collectively, these results suggest that Lp.LTA attenuates S. mutans biofilm formation and could be used to develop effective anticaries agents.

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