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Characterization of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans hemolysin
1Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
Microbiology and Immunology
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produces a hemolysin, a potent toxin that lyses red blood cells. This study details the isolation and characterization of this bacterial hemolysin.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is associated with periodontal disease.
- Hemolytic activity in bacterial pathogens can contribute to virulence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and characterize the hemolysin produced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.
- To determine the properties and optimal conditions for hemolysin activity.
Main Methods:
- Culturing Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strains on horse blood agar.
- Fractionation of bacterial cell components.
- Purification using ammonium sulfate precipitation, isoelectric focusing, and gel filtration.
- Analysis by SDS-PAGE.
Main Results:
- Twenty of 33 strains exhibited hemolytic activity.
- Hemolytic activity was associated with a 12 kDa protein.
- Human erythrocytes were most susceptible.
- Activity was heat-labile and sensitive to proteases but enhanced by sulfhydryl reagents.
Conclusions:
- Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produces a heat-labile hemolysin.
- The hemolysin is a 12 kDa protein located in cell-associated vesicles.
- This finding contributes to understanding the virulence factors of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.