Molecular Signaling Mechanisms of the Periopathogen, Treponema denticola

Abstract

In the healthy subgingiva, oral treponemes account for a small percentage of the total bacteria. However, in diseased periodontal pockets, treponemes thrive and become a dominant component of the bacterial population. Oral treponemes are uniquely adept at capitalizing on the environmental conditions that develop with periodontal disease. The molecular basis of adaptive responses of oral treponemes is just beginning to be investigated and defined. The completion of several treponeme genome sequences and the characterization of global regulatory systems provide an important starting point in the analysis of signaling and adaptive responses. In this review, we discuss existing literature focused on the genetic regulatory mechanisms of Treponema denticola and present an overview of the possible roles of regulatory proteins identified through genome analyses. This information provides insight into the possible molecular mechanisms utilized by oral spirochetes to survive in the periodontal pocket and transition from a minor to a dominant organism.

On the role, ecology, phylogeny, and structure of dual-family immunophilins

“…Not surprisingly also, many DFI organisms can degrade high molecular weight organic matter, as mentioned above. Most Spirochetes and Apicomplexa are pathogens that must scavenge available nutrients in their niche tissues; for instance, T. denticola, a periodontal pathogen, thrives in the anaerobic conditions under the gum (Frederick et al 2011;Sela 2001). Capnocytophaga spp.…”

Gene Regulation, Two Component Regulatory Systems, and Adaptive Responses in Treponema Denticola

“…However, the regulatory pathways and effectors that control adaptive responses are relatively unknown. Frederick et al (2011) sought to gain additional insight into the potential regulatory networks involved in environmental adaptation through a bioinformatics-based assessment of the T. denticola 35405 genome. In bacteria, two component regulatory (TCR) systems are key players in adaptive responses.…”

Inactivation of Cyclic Di-GMP Binding Protein TDE0214 Affects the Motility, Biofilm Formation, and Virulence of Treponema denticola

“…Frederick et al recently predicted that TDE0214 is an effector protein of c-di-GMP (41). Along with this prediction, sequence alignment with the Vibrio cholerae PlzD (17), P. aeruginosa PilZ (23), and Borrelia burgdorferi PlzA (18,28) proteins revealed that TDE0214 harbors a PilZ-like domain with two signature motifs, RXXXR and DXSXXG (Fig.…”

“…The T. denticola ATCC 35405 strain was recently sequenced (40). Its genome encodes five proteins (TDE0125, TDE1685, TDE2725, TDE2580, and TDE2582) that harbor a well-conserved GGD/EEF domain, two proteins (TDE0128 and TDE2075) with an EAL domain, four proteins (TDE1256, TDE1467, TDE2302, and TDE2659) with an HD-GYP domain, and two putative c-di-GMP binding proteins (TDE0214 and TDE1318) (41), suggesting the existence of c-di-GMP signal-ing pathways in T. denticola. The work reported here attempts to uncover the potential roles of c-di-GMP-mediated regulatory networks in T. denticola via study of TDE0214, a putative PilZ-containing protein.…”