INTERSPECIES BACTERIAL INTERACTIONS

这个子项目是利用资源的许多研究子项目之一。 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。对子项目的主要支持 子项目的首席调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括美国国立卫生研究院的其他来源。为子项目列出的总成本可能 表示该子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， 不是由NCRR赠款提供给次级项目或次级项目工作人员的直接资金。 人类牙菌斑是一个公认的多物种细菌群落的例子。我的研究兴趣在于牙菌斑中不同细菌物种之间的相互作用，以及菌斑群落中不同细菌物种之间的沟通研究。这种交流包括生物膜中有机体之间的代谢相互作用。我目前的研究重点包括对斑块群落中两个成员之间发生的交流的研究，这两个成员是非典型韦洛氏菌和戈登链球菌。当这些生物在一起生长时，戈登链霉菌诱导α-淀粉酶基因的表达，而当戈登链霉菌在没有非典型性弧菌的情况下生长时，这种基因不会表达。我的目标是确定这些物种之间发生的信号传递机制，并确定淀粉酶表达对混合物种群落发展的重要性。我最近发现，戈登葡萄球菌需要一种转录因子来诱导淀粉酶的表达，以响应非典型性弧菌。我计划找出这个信号所需的其他基因。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. Human dental plaque is a well-recognized example of a multi-species bacterial community. My research interest lies in the interaction between different bacterial species found in dental plaque and the study of communication between different species of bacteria in the plaque community. This communication includes metabolic interactions between organisms in the biofilm. My current research focus includes studies of communication that occurs between two members of the plaque community, Veillonella atypica and Streptococcus gordonii. When these organisms are growing together, S. gordonii induces expression of an alpha-amylase gene that is not expressed when S. gordonii is grown without V. atypica. My goals are to identify the mechanism of signaling that occurs between these species and determine the importance of amylase expression to development of the mixed-species community. I have recently identified a transcription factor is required for S. gordonii to induce amylase expression in response to V. atypica. I plan to identify other genes required for this signaling.