• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2017

Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the breakdown of tooth-supporting tissues, leading to tooth loss. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans are major etiologic bacterium causing aggressive periodontitis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a hydrophilic gall bladder acid, has been used as an effective drug for various diseases related to immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of UDCA on the inflammatory response induced by A. actinomycetemcomitans. Methods: A human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) was differentiated to macrophage- like cells by treatment with phorbol 12-mystristate 13-acetate (PMA) and used for all experiments. The cytotoxic effect of UDCA was examined by MTT assay. THP-1 cells were pretreated with UDCA for 30 min before A. actinomycetemcomitans infection and the culture supernatant was analyzed for various cytokine production by ELISA. The effect of UDCA on bacterial growth was examined by measuring optical densities using a spectrophotometer. Results: UDCA showed no cytotoxic effect on THP-1 cells, up to $80{\mu}M$ Ed highlight: Please confirm technical meaning. UDCA pretreatment inhibited the A. actinomycetemcomitans-induced $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-17A secretion in a dose-dependent manner. UDCA also inhibited IL-21 production at $60{\mu}M$. The production of IL-12 and IL-4 was not influenced by A. actinomycetemcomitans infection. Conclusion: These findings indicate that UDCA inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines involved in innate and Th17 immune responses in A. actinomycetemcomitans-infected THP-1- derived macrophages, which suggests its possible use for the control of aggressive periodontitis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.257-261
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• 2009

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) is an important pathogen casuing aggressive periodontitis. The present study was designed to investigate the chemokines expression regulated by A. actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Chemokines genes expression profiling was performed in Raw 264.7 cells by analyses of microarray and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Microarray results showed that the induction of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\alpha}$ (MIP-$1{\alpha}$), MIP-$1{\beta}$, MIP-$1{\gamma}$, regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), and interferon-${\gamma}$ inducible protein 10 (IP 10) by A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS was increased to 12.5, 1.53, 9.09, 17.3, 2.82, 16.1, and 18.1 folds at 18 h, respectively. To check these chemokines expression by A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS, we examined gene expressions by RT-PCR, and found that the expression of MIP-$1{\beta}$, MIP-$1{\gamma}$, RANTES, MIP-2, and IP 10 was increased 107.1, 93.6, 106.8, 86.5, and 162.0 folds at 18 h, respectively. These results indicate that A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS stimulates the several chemokines expressions (MIP-$1{\alpha}$, MIP-$1{\beta}$, MIP-$1{\gamma}$, RANTES, MIP-2, and IP 10) in Raw 264.7 cells.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2023

Background: Some studies confirm the reduction of the number of Streptococcus mutans in saliva and dental plaque by Lactobacillus, however, these effects are not always confirmed in in vitro and clinical studies, and only the risk of dental caries has been reported. Our in vitro study aimed to reveal microbial and biochemical changes in the single cultures of S. mutans, Lactobacillus casei and Aggregatibactor actinomycetemcomitans and co-cultures of S. mutans and L. casei or A. actinomycetemcomitans according to sucrose concentration. We also aimed to confirm the anti-oral bacterial and anti-biofilm activities of L. casei and A. actinomycetemcomitans against S. mutans according to sucrose concentration. Methods: S. mutans (KCCM 40105), L. casei (KCCM 12452), and A. actinomycetemcomitans (KCTC 2581) diluted to 5×10⁶ CFU/ml were single cultured, and L. casei or A. actinomycetemcomitans applied at concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% to S. mutans were co-cultured with selective medium containing 0%, 1% and 5% sucrose at 36.5℃ for 24 hours. Measurements of bacterial growth value and acid production, disk diffusion and biofilm formation assays were performed. Results: In the medium containing sucrose, the bacterial growth and biofilm formation by S. mutans, L. casei, and A. actinomycetemcomitans were increased. In contrast, 30% and 40% of L. casei in the medium containing 0% sucrose showed both anti-oral bacterial and anti-biofilm activities. This implies that L. casei can be used as probiotic therapy to reduce S. mutans in a 0% sucrose environment. Conclusion: The concentration of sucrose in the oral environment is important for the control of pathogenic bacteria that cause dental caries and periodontitis. To apply probiotic therapy using L. casei for S. mutans reduction, the concentration of sucrose must be considered.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.209-212
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to develop species-specific PCR primers for use in the identification and detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. These primers target variable regions of the 168 ribosomal RNA coding gene (rDNA). We assessed the specificity of the primers against 9 A. actinomycetemcomitans strains and 11 strains (3 species) of the Haemophilus genus. Primer sensitivity was determined by testing serial dilutions of the purified genomic DNAs of A. actinomycetemcomitans ATCC$ 33384^$T Our obtained data revealed that we had obtained species-specific amplicons for all of the tested A. actinomycetemcomitans strains, and that none of these amplicons occurred in any of the other species. Our PCR protocol proved able to detect as little as 4 fg of A. actinomycetemcomitans chromosomal DNA. Our findings suggest that these PCR primers are incredibly sensitive, and should prove suitable for application in epidemiological studies, as well as the diagnosis and monitoring of periodontal pathogens after treatment for periodontitis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2015

Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of antibiotics that inhibits the visible growth of bacteria. It has been reported that sub-MIC of antibiotics may result in morphological alterations, along with the biochemical and physiological changes in bacteria. The purpose of this study was to examine morphological changes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, after the treatment with sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin. The bacterial morphology was observed with scanning electron microscope, after incubating with sub-MIC antibiotics. The length of A. actinomycetemcomitans was increased after the incubation with sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin. Sub-MIC metronidazole and penicillin inhibited bacterial division and induced long filaments. Our study showed that metronidazole and penicillin can induce the morphological changes in A. actinomycetemcomitans.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.487-496
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• 1995

Previous studies have demonstrated that not all A. actinomycetemcomitans produced significant level of leukotoxic factor and its leukotoxicity have associated with serotype and genetic variation. Our aim was to investigate on the interrelationship between serotype and leukotoxicity of an A. actinomycetemcomitans consisting of 13 clinically well characterized. Korean isolates and to evaluate if particular virulent clonal types of A. actinomycetemcomitans are associated with periodontal disease. For this study, 13 strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans from 6 patients with periodontal disease were isolated and identified by using a selective medium(tryptic soy agar supplemented with 10% serum, $75{\mu}g$ of bacitracin and $5{\mu}g$ of vancomycin per ml) in 10% C02 incubator for 3days with routine Gram staining, colony morphology and biochemical test..For serotyping, antisera were prepared from reference strains of 5 serotypes. (ATCC 29523,Y4, SUNY aB 67, IDH 781, IDH 1705) and then ammonium sulfate precipitation, immunoabsorption and indirect immunofluoroscent procedures were done. For analysis of leukotoxicity, sonic extract of A. actinomycetemcomitans exposed to PMN, and trypan blue was stained for counting the cell viability. Finally Southern blot analyses of genomic DNA digested with the restriction enzyme Tag I was done and the Southern blots were hybridized with the 530bp fragment, termed delta 530, originating from the ltx promoter of strain 652 and deleted from strain JP2. Also ltxA-3.1 and SC2 probe from strain JP2 were hybridized with genomic DNA fragments. Results reveal that strains isolated showed approximately equal proportions of 3 serotypes(b, d, e) and serotype b was not detected. 2 patients harbored 2 different serotypes in the same disease site. The prevalence of leukotoxic strain was 23% and there was no relationship between serotype, leukotoxicity and clinical observations. Especially virulent clonal types of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitan (JP2 strain) could not found. Further studies are necessary on the genetic polymorphism of leukotoxin and its relations to clinical status.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.557-562
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• 2016

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis are gram-negative bacteria frequently found in lesions from patients with periodontitis manifesting alveolar bone loss. Lipopolysaccharides are a major virulence factor of gram-negative bacteria. Bone resorption is known to be regulated by bacteria and their virulence factors. In the present study, we investigated the effects of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis on bone resorption. Heat-killed A. actinomycetemcomitans (HKAa) and heatkilled P. gingivalis (HKPg) induced bone loss in the femurs of mice after intraperitoneal administration. HKAa and HKPg augmented the differentiation of committed osteoclast precursors into osteoclasts, while they inhibited the differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages into osteoclasts. Concordant with the effects of the heat-killed whole cells, LPS purified from A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis also augmented osteoclast differentiation from committed osteoclast precursors but attenuated it from bone marrow-derived macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that the whole cells and lipopolysaccharides of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis induce the differentiation of committed osteoclast precursors into osteoclasts, potentially contributing to bone resorption in vivo.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.sup2
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• pp.317-324
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• 2008

Purpose: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans was associated with localized aggressive periodontitis, endocarditis, meningitis, and osteomyelitis. The cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of A. actinomycetemcomitans was considered as a key factor of these diseases is composed of five open reading frames (ORFs). Among of them, An enzymatic subunit of the CDT, CdtB has been known to be internalized into the host cell in order to induce its genotoxic effect. However, CdtB can not be localized in host cytoplasm without the help of a heterodimeric complex consisting of CdtA and CdtC. So, some studies suggested that CdtC functions as a ligand to interact with GM3 ganglioside of host cell surface. The precise role of the CdtC protein in the mechanism of action of the holotoxin is unknown at the present time. The aim of this study was to generate recombinant CdtC proteins expression from A. actinomycetemcomitans, through gene cloning and protein used to investigate the function of Cdt C protein in the bacterial pathogenesis. Materials and Methods: The genomic DNA of A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 (ATCC29522) was isolated using the genomic DNA extraction kit and used as template to yield cdtC genes by PCR. The amplifed cdtC genes were cloned into T-vector and cloned cdt C gene was then subcloned to pET28a expression vector. The pET28a-cdtC plasmid expressed in BL21 (DE3) Escherichia coli system. Diverse conditons were tested to opitimize the expression and purification of functional CdtC protein in E. coli. Results: In this study we reconstructed CdtC subunit of A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 and comfirmed the recombinant CdtC expression by SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting. The expression level of the recombinant CdtC was about 2% of total bacterial proteins. Conclusion: The lab condition of procedure for the purification of functionally active recombinant CdtC protein is established. The active recombinant CdtC protein will serve to examine the role of CdtC proteins in the host recognition and enzyme activity of CDT and investigate the pathological process of A. actinomycetemcomitans in periodontal disease.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2007

Plant extract has attracted considerable interest in oral disease therapy. The present study was performed to observe the antibacterial effect on cariogenic Streptococcus mutans GS5 and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715, and periodontopathic Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 of phytoncide from Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc employing the measurement of optical density, viable cell counts, and antibiotic sensitivity. The results were as follows: 1. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the phytoncide for S. mutans, S. sobrinus, and A. actinomycetemcomitans was observed to be 0.5%, 1%, and 0.2%, respectively. 2. Minimum bactericidal concentration of the phytoncide for S. mutans, S. sobrinus, and A. actinomycetemcomitans was determined to be 0.5%, 2%, and 0.2%, respectively. 3. The bacteria exposed to the phytoncide become more sensitive to antibiotics. The phytoncide enhanced significantly antibacterial activity of ampicillin against S. mutans and S. sobrinus. It also increased significantly the activity of penicillin and amoxicillin against S. sobrinus. In contrast, the phytoncide augmented the activity of amoxicillin and cefotaxime against A. actinomycetemcomitans but the increase was not statistically significant. The overall results indicate that phytoncide from Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc used for this study has a strong antibacterial activity against cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria and that it also has permeabilizing effect on certain antibiotics against these bacteria. Therefore, the phytoncide may be used as a candidate for prevention and therapeutic agent against oral infectious disease including dental caries and periodontal disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.110-115
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• 2004

This study was undertaken to develop PCR primers for the simultaneous detection of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, using two species-specific reverse primers in combination with a single conserved forward primer. These primers target the variable and conserved regions of the 16S rDNA. The primer specificity was tested against (i) four F. nucleatum and three A. actinomycetemcomitans strains and (ii) seven representatives of the different species of oral bacteria. The primer sensitivity was determined by testing serial dilutions of the purified genomic DNA of F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans. The data indicate that species-specific amplicons could be obtained for all the F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans strains tested, which were not found in the seven other species. The multiplex PCR could detect as little as 4 fg of chromosomal DNA of F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans simultaneously. These findings suggest that these PCR primers are highly sensitive and are suitable for applications in epidemiological studies, diagnosis, and monitoring F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans after the treatment of periodontitis.