Hydrogen peroxide contributes to the epithelial cell death

induced by the oral mitis group of streptococci.

Okahashi N
1
, Sumitomo T
2
, Nakata M
2
, Sakurai A
3
, Kuwata H
4
, Kawabata S
2
.
Author information
Abstract
Members of the mitis group of streptococci are normal inhabitants of the commensal flora of
the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract of humans. Some mitis group species, such as
Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus sanguinis, are primary colonizers of the human oral
cavity. Recently, we found that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced by S. oralis is cytotoxic
to human macrophages, suggesting that streptococcus-derived H2O2 may act as a cytotoxin.
Since epithelial cells provide a physical barrier against pathogenic microbes, we investigated
their susceptibility to infection by H2O2-producing streptococci in this study. Infection by S.
oralis and S. sanguinis was found to stimulate cell death of Detroit 562, Calu-3 and HeLa
epithelial cell lines at a multiplicity of infection greater than 100. Catalase, an enzyme that
catalyzes the decomposition of H2O2, inhibited S. oralis cytotoxicity, and H2O2 alone was
capable of eliciting epithelial cell death. Moreover, S. oralis mutants lacking the spxB gene
encoding pyruvate oxidase, which are deficient in H2O2 production, exhibited reduced
cytotoxicity toward Detroit 562 epithelial cells. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assays revealed that both S. oralis and H2O2 induced interleukin-6 production in Detroit 562
epithelial cells. These results suggest that streptococcal H2O2 is cytotoxic to epithelial cells,
and promotes bacterial evasion of the host defense systems in the oral cavity and upper
respiratory tracts.










Molecular analysis of bacterial flora associated with
chronically inflamed maxillary sinuses.
Paju S
1
, Bernstein JM, Haase EM, Scannapieco FA.
Author information
Abstract
Chronic maxillary sinusitis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the role of microbial
infection remains undefined. Bacteria have been isolated from chronically inflamed sinuses;
however, their role in the chronicity of inflammation is unknown. The objective of this study
was to determine whether bacteria are present in clinical samples from chronic maxillary
sinusitis and to assess the diversity of the flora present. Washes and/or tissue samples from
endoscopic sinus surgery on 11 patients with chronic maxillary sinusitis were subjected to
PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rDNA using three universal primer pairs, followed by
cloning and sequencing. The samples were also assessed for the presence of bacteria and
fungi by conventional culture methods. Viable bacteria and/or bacterial 16S rDNA were
detected from maxillary sinus samples of five of the 11 patients examined (45 %). Three
sinus samples were positive by both PCR and culture methods, one was positive only by
PCR, and one only by culture. Thirteen bacterial species were identified: Abiotrophia
defectiva, Enterococcus avium, Eubacterium sp., Granulicatella elegans, Neisseria sp.,
Prevotella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus,
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus mitis/Streptococcus
oralis and Streptococcus sp. Fungi were not detected. In one patient Streptococcus
mitis/Streptococcus oralis, and in another patient Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were detected
from both the sinus and the oral cavity using species-specific PCR primers. These results
suggest that both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria can be detected in nearly half of chronic
maxillary sinusitis cases










The virulence of Streptococcus mutans and the ability to
form biofilms.
Krzyciak W
1
, Jurczak A, Kocielniak D, Bystrowska B, Skalniak A.
Author information
Abstract
In some diseases, a very important role is played by the ability of bacteria to form multi-
dimensional complex structure known as biofilm. The most common disease of the oral
cavity, known as dental caries, is a top leader. Streptococcus mutans, one of the many
etiological factors of dental caries, is a microorganism which is able to acquire new properties
allowing for the expression of pathogenicity determinants determining its virulence in specific
environmental conditions. Through the mechanism of adhesion to a solid surface, S. mutans
is capable of colonizing the oral cavity and also of forming bacterial biofilm. Additional
properties enabling S. mutans to colonize the oral cavity include the ability to survive in an
acidic environment and specific interaction with other microorganisms colonizing this
ecosystem. This review is an attempt to establish which characteristics associated with
biofilm formation-virulence determinants of S. mutans-are responsible for the development of
dental caries. In order to extend the knowledge of the nature of Streptococcus infections, an
attempt to face the following problems will be made: Biofilm formation as a complex process
of protein-bacterium interaction. To what extent do microorganisms of the
cariogenic flora exemplified by S. mutans differ in virulence determinants "expression" from
microorganisms of physiological flora? How does the environment of the oral cavity and its
microorganisms affect the biofilm formation of dominant species? How do selected inhibitors
affect the biofilm formation of cariogenic microorganisms?