Effect of temperature and viscosity on the motility of the spirochete Treponema denticola

Ruby, John D.

doi:10.1016/s0378-1097(98)00493-5

Cited by 16 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These organisms can swim through gel-like viscous media, such as connective tissue, which inhibit the motility of most bacteria (1,16,24,46). B. burgdorferi penetrates the skin after a tick bite, and T. pallidum, L. interrogans, and B. burgdorferi infect many tissues of the host, even the eye, which other organisms fail to invade (20,24).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Spirochete FlaA Periplasmic Flagellar Sheath Protein Impacts Flagellar Helicity

et al. 2000

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Spirochete periplasmic flagella (PFs), including those from Brachyspira (Serpulina), Spirochaeta, Treponema, and Leptospira spp., have a unique structure. In most spirochete species, the periplasmic flagellar filaments consist of a core of at least three proteins (FlaB1, FlaB2, and FlaB3) and a sheath protein (FlaA). Each of these proteins is encoded by a separate gene. Using Brachyspira hyodysenteriae as a model system for analyzing PF function by allelic exchange mutagenesis, we analyzed purified PFs from previously constructed flaA::cat, flaA::kan, and flaB1::kan mutants and newly constructed flaB2::cat and flaB3::cat mutants. We investigated whether any of these mutants had a loss of motility and altered PF structure. As formerly found with flaA::cat, flaA::kan, and flaB1::kan mutants, flaB2::cat and flaB3::cat mutants were still motile, but all were less motile than the wild-type strain, using a swarm-plate assay. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis indicated that each mutation resulted in the specific loss of the cognate gene product in the assembled purified PFs. Consistent with these results, Northern blot analysis indicated that each flagellar filament gene was monocistronic. In contrast to previous results that analyzed PFs attached to disrupted cells, purified PFs from a flaA::cat mutant were significantly thinner (19.6 nm) than those of the wild-type strain and flaB1::kan, flaB2::cat, and flaB3::cat mutants (24 to 25 nm). These results provide supportive genetic evidence that FlaA forms a sheath around the FlaB core. Using high-magnification dark-field microscopy, we also found that flaA::cat and flaA::kan mutants produced PFs with a smaller helix pitch and helix diameter compared to the wild-type strain and flaB mutants. These results indicate that the interaction of FlaA with the FlaB core impacts periplasmic flagellar helical morphology.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Spirochete FlaA Periplasmic Flagellar Sheath Protein Impacts Flagellar Helicity

et al. 2000

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“…In fact, the speed of several spirochete species actually accelerates as macroscopic viscosity increases. For example, the speed of T. denticola increases from less than 1 µm/sec in liquid media to 19 µm/sec in the presence of 1% methylcellulose (140 centipoise) (108). This attribute may allow T. denticola and other spirochetes to penetrate, invade, and adapt to specific ecological niches that exclude other bacterial species (22).…”

Section: Selective Advantages Of Spirochetesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetics of Motility and Chemotaxis of a Fascinating Group of Bacteria: The Spirochetes

2002

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Spirochetes are a medically important and ecologically significant group of motile bacteria with a distinct morphology. Outermost is a membrane sheath, and within this sheath is the protoplasmic cell cylinder and subterminally attached periplasmic flagella. Here we address specific and unique aspects of their motility and chemotaxis. For spirochetes, translational motility requires asymmetrical rotation of the two internally located flagellar bundles. Consequently, they have swimming modalities that are more complex than the well-studied paradigms. In addition, coordinated flagellar rotation likely involves an efficient and novel signaling mechanism. This signal would be transmitted over the length of the cell, which in some cases is over 100-fold greater than the cell diameter. Finally, many spirochetes, including Treponema, Borrelia, and Leptospira, are highly invasive pathogens. Motility is likely to play a major role in the disease process. This review summarizes the progress in the genetics of motility and chemotaxis of spirochetes, and points to new directions for future experimentation.

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“…Evidence indicates that the rotation of the spirochete flagellar filaments results in specific movements of the cell body, which in turn enable the locomotion of the cell [Berg, 1976, Canale-Parola, 1984, Charon et al, 1992a, b, Li et al, 2000b. This periplasmic location of the flagellum imparts spirochetes the ability to propel themselves through viscous media that would inhibit the rotation of external flagellar filaments [Greenberg and Canale-Parola, 1977;Kimsey and Spielman, 1990;Klitorinos et al, 1993;Ruby and Charon, 1998]. Depending on the spirochete species, this characteristic may enable movement in low-or high-viscosity matrices (mud, periodontal scrapings, water), as well as penetration through tissues [Lux et al, 2001;Sadziene et al, 1991;Thomas et al, 1988].…”

Section: Notable Diseases Caused By Spirochetes Include Syphilis (Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Periplasmic Flagellum of Spirochetes

Limberger

2004

Microb Physiol

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Although spirochete periplasmic flagella have many features similar to typical bacterial flagella, they are unique in their structure and internal periplasmic location. This location provides advantages for pathogenic spirochetes to enter and to adapt in the appropriate host, and to penetrate through matrices that inhibit the motility of most other bacteria. These flagella are complex, and they dynamically interact with the spirochete cell cylinder in novel ways. Electron microscopy, tomography and three-dimensional reconstructions have provided new insights into flagellar structure and its relationship to the spirochetal cell cylinder. Recent advances in genetic methods have begun to shed light on the composition of the spirochete flagellum, and on the regulation of its synthesis. Because spirochetes have a high length to width ratio, their cells provide an opportunity to study two important features. These include the polarity or distribution of flagellar synthesis as well as the mechanisms required for coordination of the movement of the cell ends, to enable it to move in the forward or reverse direction.

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Effect of temperature and viscosity on the motility of the spirochete Treponema denticola

Cited by 16 publications

References 16 publications

The Spirochete FlaA Periplasmic Flagellar Sheath Protein Impacts Flagellar Helicity

The Spirochete FlaA Periplasmic Flagellar Sheath Protein Impacts Flagellar Helicity

Genetics of Motility and Chemotaxis of a Fascinating Group of Bacteria: The Spirochetes

The Periplasmic Flagellum of Spirochetes

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