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The JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: Dissemination and Pathogenicity

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A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 6124

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dorte Haubek

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Guest Editor

Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
Interests: periodontal disease; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; periodontitis; dissemination of microorganisms; population genetics; pathogenic bacterial clones; phylogeny; molecular epidemiology; colonization; host–pathogen interactions; antibiotic resistance; global health

Dr. Anders Johansson

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Guest Editor

Division of Molecular Periodontology, Department of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Interests: periodontal infection; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans; virulence mechanisms; pro-inflammatory response
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The oral pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans has been intensely studied for decades, but is still a highly interesting research field and a matter of intense investigation.

Particular clonal types of A. actinomycetemcomitans have been associated with periodontitis, and the geographic dissemination of various genotypes has been reported on, so far with a particular focus on the African continent. However, over time it has become clear that a more widespread dissemination of highly leukotoxic genotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans on different continents has occurred. However, the topic has not yet been fully explored in a global perspective. The present Special Issue welcomes manuscripts exploring the dissemination and pathogenicity of highly leukotoxic genotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans, with a special focus on the JP2 variant.

Prof. Dr. Dorte Haubek
Dr. Anders Johansson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

oral microbiota
pathogenic bacterial species
dysbiosis
virulence mechanisms
highly leukotoxic genotypes
dissemination
periodontitis
clinical attachment loss

Published Papers (4 papers)

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13 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

qPCR Detection and Quantification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Other Periodontal Pathogens in Saliva and Gingival Crevicular Fluid among Periodontitis Patients

by Sarah Reddahi, Amal Bouziane, Kaoutar Dib, Houssain Tligui and Oum keltoum Ennibi

Pathogens 2023, 12(1), 76; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens12010076 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1733

Abstract

Objective: The detection of special bacterial species in patients with periodontitis is considered useful for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of specific periopathogens and investigate whether there is a correlation between the results of different bacterial species in whole saliva and pooled subgingival plaque samples (healthy and diseased sites) from individuals with periodontitis and periodontally healthy subjects. Materials and methods: In total, 52 patients were recruited and divided into two groups: non-periodontitis and periodontitis patients. For each group, the following periodontal pathogens were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction: A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 clone, A. actinomycetemcomitans non JP2 clone, Porphyromonasgingivalis, and total eubacteria. Results: Higher levels of the various studied bacteria were present in both saliva and plaque samples from the periodontitis group in comparison to non-periodontitis subjects. There were significant differences in P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 clones in the saliva of periodontitis patient compared to the control group. Subgingival plaque of diseased sites presented a significant and strong positive correlation between A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis. In saliva samples, there was a significant positive correlation between A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 clone and P. gingivalis (p ≤ 0.002). Conclusion: Quantifying and differentiating these periodontal species from subgingival plaque and saliva samples showed a good potential as diagnostic markers for periodontal disease. Regarding the prevalence of the studied bacteria, specifically A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 clone, found in this work, and the high rate of susceptibility to periodontal species in Africa, future larger studies are recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: Dissemination and Pathogenicity)

7 pages, 834 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carriage of the JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans by Periodontitis Patients of Various Geographic Origin, Living in Sweden

by Rolf Claesson, Jan Oscarsson and Anders Johansson

Pathogens 2022, 11(11), 1233; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens11111233 - 25 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1079

Abstract

The JP2 genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans serotype b is associated with aggressive forms of periodontitis and was initially identified as affecting adolescents in North and West Africa. The dissemination of this genotype follows the migration routes and can today be detected in samples from periodontitis patients in a high number of countries. In the present study, we aim to describe findings of the JP2 genotype A. actinomycetemcomits in a clinical laboratory at the Dental School, Odontology, Umeå University, Sweden. The findings of JP2 carriers are documented during a 21-year period, and the age and geographic origin of the sampled individuals are described. In addition, the collected JP2 isolates were separated into North or West African origin by analyses of the presence of a point mutation in the hbpA2 pseudogene of the bacterium. In a total of 2296 sampled individuals during this period in this Swedish population of periodontitis patients, 32 JP2 carriers were detected by cultivation and PCR. The geographic background of these individuals was diverse, including sixteen with African origin, ten with a Swedish origin and six additional ones with a non-African origin. The JP2 genotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans were mainly isolated from young individuals (<35 years of age), and seven out of the 32 isolates were of a West African origin based on the sequence of hbpA2. We conclude that the JP2 genotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans can be detected world-wide in subgingival plaque samples from adolescents affected by periodontitis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: Dissemination and Pathogenicity)

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13 pages, 2072 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genomic Islands Shape the Genetic Background of Both JP2 and Non-JP2 Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

by Weerayuth Kittichotirat, Roger E. Bumgarner and Casey Chen

Pathogens 2022, 11(9), 1037; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens11091037 - 13 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1267

Abstract

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a periodontal pathogen associated with periodontitis. This species exhibits substantial variations in gene content among different isolates and has different virulence potentials. This study examined the distribution of genomic islands and their insert sites among genetically diverse A. actinomycetemcomitans strains by comparative genomic analysis. The results showed that some islands, presumably more ancient, were found across all genetic clades of A. actinomycetemcomitans. In contrast, other islands were specific to individual clades or a subset of clades and may have been acquired more recently. The islands for the biogenesis of serotype-specific antigens comprise distinct genes located in different loci for serotype a and serotype b–f strains. Islands that encode the same cytolethal distending toxins appear to have been acquired via distinct mechanisms in different loci for clade b/c and for clade a/d/e/f strains. The functions of numerous other islands remain to be elucidated. JP2 strains represent a small branch within clade b, one of the five major genetic clades of A. actinomycetemcomitans. In conclusion, the complex process of genomic island acquisition, deletion, and modification is a significant force in the genetic divergence of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Assessing the genetic distinctions between JP2 and non-JP2 strains must consider the landscape of genetic variations shaped by evolution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: Dissemination and Pathogenicity)

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7 pages, 525 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

The Highly Leukotoxic JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Is Present in the Population of the West African Island, Sal in Cape Verde: A Pilot Study

by Johannes J. De Soet, Rolf Claesson, Dorte Haubek, Anders Johansson, Mark J. Buijs and Catherine M. C. Volgenant

Pathogens 2022, 11(5), 577; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pathogens11050577 - 13 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1379

Abstract

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is strongly associated with severe periodontitis, possibly due to its production of a potent leukotoxin. A genetic variant, the JP2 genotype, was found to produce more leukotoxin than the wild type because of a mutation in the leukotoxin gene, and this genotype is frequently found in African populations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this JP2 genotype can be found in a randomly selected group of inhabitants of Sal, Cape Verde. Twenty-nine adults between 20 and 59 years of age (58.6% female) participated, and information on their oral health and living standards was collected. An oral examination was performed for each participant, including DMF-T and CPI scores. Plaque and saliva samples were collected and transported to Europe, where DNA was isolated, and the concentration of A. actinomycetemcomitans and its JP2 genotype was determined using dedicated PCR analyses. All 29 plaque and 31% of the saliva samples harboured A. actinomycetemcomitans, and two participants were positive for the JP2 genotype. The presence of this JP2 genotype was not associated with either CPI or DMF-T. This pilot study is the first to describe the presence of the A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 genotype in a Cape Verdean population living in the Cape Verde Islands, and the findings warrant further research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The JP2 Genotype of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: Dissemination and Pathogenicity)

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