Comparative Genome Analysis ofFusobacterium nucleatum

Abstract

Fusobacterium nucleatum is considered to be a key oral bacterium in recruiting periodontal pathogens into subgingival dental plaque. Currently F. nucleatum can be subdivided into five subspecies. Our previous genome analysis of F. nucleatum W1481 (referred to hereafter as W1481), isolated from an 8-mm periodontal pocket in a patient with chronic periodontitis, suggested the possibility of a new subspecies. To further investigate the biology and relationships of this possible subspecies with other known subspecies, we performed comparative analysis between W1481 and 35 genome sequences represented by the five known Fusobacterium subspecies. Our analyses suggest that W1481 is most likely a new F. nucleatum subspecies, supported by evidence from phylogenetic analyses and maximal unique match indices (MUMi). Interestingly, we found a horizontally transferred W1481-specific genomic island harboring the tripartite ATP-independent (TRAP)-like transporter genes, suggesting this bacterium might have a high-affinity transport system for the C4-dicarboxylates malate, succinate, and fumarate. Moreover, we found virulence genes in the W1481 genome that may provide a strong defense mechanism which might enable it to colonize and survive within the host by evading immune surveillance. This comparative study provides better understanding of F. nucleatum and the basis for future functional work on this important pathogen.

High-resolution microbiome profiling uncoversFusobacterium nucleatum,Lactobacillus gasseri/johnsonii, andLactobacillus vaginalisassociated to oral and oropharyngeal cancer in saliva from HPV positive and HPV negative patients treated with surgery and chemo-radiation

“…Fusobacterium nucleatum can be subdivided into five subspecies. Virulence genes in the W1481 subspecies genome may provide a strong defense mechanism that might enable it to colonize and survive within the host by evading immune surveillance [ 89 ].…”

Forward Genetic Dissection of Biofilm Development by Fusobacterium nucleatum: Novel Functions of Cell Division Proteins FtsX and EnvC

“…In spite of the versatile pathogenic potential of F. nucleatum , little is known about the mechanisms of fusobacterial virulence and associated factors, and virtually nothing is known about many other basic cellular processes in F. nucleatum , including protein transport, cell surface biogenesis, and cell division or cytokinesis. To date, less than a dozen of fusobacterial factors have been reported; these factors include FomA, FadA, Fap2, RadD, Aid1, FAD-I, and CmpA ( 6 , 8 – 16 ), although more than 2,000 open reading frames (ORFs) are annotated in the genomes of many F. nucleatum strains ( 17 – 20 ) (see also https://www.patricbrc.org/ ). The majority of the aforementioned factors are adhesins, with Fap2, RadD, Aid1, and CmpA involved in polymicrobial interactions or coaggregation ( 10 – 12 , 16 ); among these, only RadD and CmpA have been implicated in biofilm formation ( 10 , 16 ).…”

Microbiota Analysis of Biofilms on Experimental Abutments Mimicking Dental Implants: An In Vivo Model

“…Another most abundant bacterium was F. nucleatum . It is known to mediate between the first and subsequent colonizers and interact with host cells, facilitating coaggregation with periodontopathogens such as P. gingivalis 37 . Some authors suggest that F. nucleatum infection facilitates attachment of P. gingivalis to the gingival fibroblast, and consequently these two bacteria are often found together 38 .…”