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Related Experiment Videos

Megaplasmids encode differing combinations of lantibiotics in Streptococcus salivarius.

Philip A Wescombe1, Jeremy P Burton, Peter A Cadieux

  • 1BLIS Technologies Ltd., Centre for Innovation, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9001, New Zealand.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
|July 28, 2006
PubMed
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Bacteriocin production in Streptococcus salivarius is linked to large plasmids. These plasmids can transfer between bacteria, carrying genes for bacteriocins like salivaricin A and B, acting as mobile gene repositories.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Streptococcus salivarius strains produce bacteriocins, which are antimicrobial peptides.
  • Bacteriocins are thought to function as anti-competitor or signaling molecules in the oral cavity.
  • The genetic basis for bacteriocin production in S. salivarius was not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic elements responsible for bacteriocin production in Streptococcus salivarius K12.
  • To determine if bacteriocin production genes are transferable between S. salivarius strains.
  • To characterize the plasmids associated with bacteriocin production in oral streptococci.

Main Methods:

  • Plasmid isolation and characterization from Streptococcus salivarius K12 and other strains.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Demonstration of plasmid transmission via oral cavity inoculation.
  • Localization of bacteriocin gene loci (salivaricin A, salivaricin B, streptin, SA-FF22) on plasmids using molecular techniques.

    • Main Results:

    • Bacteriocin production in S. salivarius K12 is encoded by a large plasmid (approximately 190 kb).
    • Oral transmission of this plasmid to a plasmid-negative variant was confirmed in human subjects.
    • Other bacteriocin-producing S. salivarius strains harbor large plasmids (up to 220 kb) containing various combinations of lantibiotic loci.

    Conclusions:

    • Plasmids serve as mobile genetic elements for bacteriocin production in Streptococcus salivarius.
    • These plasmids act as repositories for bacteriocin gene clusters, particularly lantibiotics.
    • The findings highlight the role of plasmids in the dissemination of antimicrobial functions within oral bacterial populations.