Localized aggressive (juvenile) periodontitis is a form of periodontal disease which affects medically underserved children in the United States. The etiologic agent Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a Gram negative oral bacterium. To establish an ecological niche in the upper aerodigestive tract of man microorganisms have devised various schemes by which they evade or subvert host defense mechanisms designed to eliminate them-the simplest of these is to kill host immune cells. This application is designed to test our hypothesis that a bacterial protein toxin (LtxA) of this organism undergoes structural reorganization as the molecule transitions from an aqueous to the membrane environment to kill human immune cells. We will use liposomal bilayer phospholipid membranes in combination with wild type and mutant forms of LtxA to characterize the host parasite interaction. The outcomes of toxin/membrane interactions will be assessed for membrane binding, lipid raft association, and/or membrane disruption using biochemical, biophysical and morphological assays. The application has three specific aims that are designed to relate LtxA structure to its biologic function.
In Specific Aim #1 w will focus on toxin-induced membrane changes such as raft clustering/cholesterol binding, acylation and HII phase formation/membrane disruption using a panel of mutant LtxA proteins. Experiments proposed in Specific Aim #2 will determine fate of the toxin after an iniial membrane encounter. Does it remain at the cell surface or internalized and routed to lysosomes for breakdown by either the endosomal or autophagosomal pathway.
Specific Aim #3 contains studies of cellugyrin a transport protein and its potential role in the transprt of LtxA into the cell interior.

Public Health Relevance

Localized aggressive (juvenile) periodontitis is a form of periodontal disease which affects medically underserved children in the United States. The etiologic agent Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a Gram negative oral bacterium. This application is designed to test our hypothesis that a bacterial protein toxin (LtxA) of this organism undergoes structural reorganization as the molecule transitions from an aqueous to the membrane environment to kill human immune cells. We will use model membrane systems in combination with wild type and mutant forms of LtxA to characterize the host parasite interaction. The outcomes of toxin/membrane interactions will be assessed by membrane binding, raft association, and/or membrane disruption using biochemical, biophysical and morphological assays.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE009517-22
Application #
8822856
Study Section
Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences Study Section (ODCS)
Program Officer
Lunsford, Dwayne
Project Start
1990-07-01
Project End
2019-01-31
Budget Start
2015-02-01
Budget End
2016-01-31
Support Year
22
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$399,550
Indirect Cost
$123,000
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
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