Novel pathogenicity of pili of oral streptococci

血链球菌是口腔链球菌的主要成员。在这项研究中，我们确定了一个独特的细胞表面丝状结构命名为皮利。我们发现S.血皮利参与生物膜的形成。此外，显示皮利亚单位蛋白结合唾液蛋白，如淀粉酶和唾液粘蛋白。另一种2型皮利也见于S.吸血鬼进一步的研究表明，2型菌毛表达的口腔链球菌在健康人中是常见的栖息地。这些结果表明口腔链球菌的皮利有助于细菌在人口腔中的定植。

Streptococcus sanguinis is a major member of the oral streptococci. In this study, we identified a unique cell surface filamentous structure named pili. We found that S. sanguinis pili are involved in biofilm formation. Further, pili subunit proteins are shown to bind salivary proteins such as amylase and salivary mucin. Another type-2 pili was also found in S. sanguinis. Further study revealed that type-2 pili-expressing oral streptococci are common habitants in healthy human. These results suggest that pili of oral streptococci contribute to the bacterial colonization in the human oral cavity.