Hung WL, Wade WG, Boden R, Kelly DP, Wood AP. Facultative methylotrophs from the human oral cavity and methylotrophy in strains of Gordonia, Leifsonia, and Microbacterium.
Arch Microbiol 2011;
193:407-17. [PMID:
21374057 DOI:
10.1007/s00203-011-0689-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Revised: 02/17/2011] [Accepted: 02/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We show that bacteria with methylotrophic potential are ubiquitous in the human mouth microbiota. Numerous strains of Actinobacteria (Brevibacterium, Gordonia, Leifsonia, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Rhodococcus) and Proteobacteria (Achromobacter, Klebsiella, Methylobacterium, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia) were isolated, and one strain of each of the eleven genera was studied in detail. These strains expressed enzymes associated with methylotrophic metabolism (methanol, methylamine, and formate dehydrogenases), and the assimilation of one-carbon compounds by the serine pathway (hydroxypyruvate reductase). Methylotrophic growth of the strains was enhanced by the addition of glass beads to cultures, suggesting that they may naturally occur in biofilms in the mouth. This is the first report of Gordonia, Leifsonia, and Rhodococcus being present in the mouth and of the unequivocal demonstration for the first time of the methylotrophic potential of strains of Gordonia, Leifsonia, and Microbacterium.
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