Extrachromosomal Gene Systems in Streptococcus Mutans (original) (raw)

Abstract

Bacterial extrachromosomal elements (plasmids) are autonomously replicating molecules of covalently closed circular (CCC) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The occurrence of plasmids in some species of streptococci has been well documented, and such plasmid-conferred phenotypes include multiple antibiotic resistance (1), bacteriocin and hemolysin production (2), conjugal donor ability (3), and the catabolism of protein and carbohydrates (4). Moreover, certain streptococcal plasmids are known to contain directly repeated DNA sequences which are capable of mediating selective gene amplification, presumably through a series of site-specific recombinational events (5). The rationale for study of bacterial plasmids has centered largely on their clinical and ecological significance. However, much recent effort in plasmid research has revolved around their use as genetic tools for the cloning and amplification of both homologous and heterologous genetic information (6).

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Clewell, D. B., Yagi, Y. and Bauer, B., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 72: 1720, 1975.
    Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  2. Jacob, A. E., Douglas, G. J. and Hobbs, S. J., J. Bacteriol. 121: 863, 1975.
    PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  3. Dunny, G. M. and Clewell, D. B., J. Bacteriol. 124: 784, 1975.
    PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  4. Efstathiou, J. D. and McKay, L. L., Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 32: 38, 1976.
    CAS Google Scholar
  5. Clewell, D. B. and Yagi, Y., trang in DNA Insertion Elements, Plasmids and Episornes, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1977.
    Google Scholar
  6. Sinsheimer, R. L., Ann. Rev. Biochem. 46: 415, 1977.
    Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  7. Clewell, D. B., Oliver, D. R., Dunny, G. M., Franke, A. E., Yagi, Y., van Houte, J. and Brown, B. L., trang in Microbial Aspects of Dental Caries (Edited by Stiles, H. M., Loesche, W. J. and O’Brien, T. C), p. 713, Information Retrieval, Inc. Washington, D.C., 1976.
    Google Scholar
  8. Reider, J. L. and Macrina, F. L., trang in Microbial Aspects of Dental Caries (Edited by Stiles, H. M., Loesche, W. J. and O’Brien, T. C), p. 725, Information Retrieval Inc., Washington, D.C., 1976.
    Google Scholar
  9. Macrina, F. L., Reider, J. L., Virgili, S. S. and Kopecko, D. J., Infect. Immun. 17: 215, 1977.
    PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  10. Coykendall, A. L., Specht, P. A. and Samol, H. H., Infect. Immun. 10: 216, 1974.
    PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  11. Coykendall, A. L., Bratthall, D., O’Connor, K. and Dvarskas, R. A., Infect. Immun. 14: 667, 1976.
    PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  12. Shklair, I. and Keene, H. J., Arch. Oral Biol. 19: 1079, 1974.
    Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  13. Meyers, J. A., Sanchez, D., Elwell, L. P. and Falkow, S., J. Bacteriol. 127: 1529, 1976.
    PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  14. Dunny, G.M., Birch, N., Hascall, G. and Clewell, D. B., J. Bacteriol. 114: 1362, 1973.
    PubMed CAS Google Scholar
  15. Roberts, R., Crit. Rev. Biochem. 3: 123, 1976.
    Article Google Scholar
  16. Higuchi, M., Araya, S. and Higuchi, M., J. Dent. Res. 55: 266, 1976.
    Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
    Francis L. Macrina, Susan S. Virgili & Carol L. Scott

Authors

  1. Francis L. Macrina
  2. Susan S. Virgili
  3. Carol L. Scott

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Dental Research, Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, Comprehesive Cancer Center, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
    Jerry R. McGhee, Jiri Mestecky & James L. Babb, &

Rights and permissions

© 1978 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Macrina, F.L., Virgili, S.S., Scott, C.L. (1978). Extrachromosomal Gene Systems in Streptococcus Mutans . In: McGhee, J.R., Mestecky, J., Babb, J.L. (eds) Secretory Immunity and Infection. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 107. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3369-2\_96

Download citation

Keywords

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Publish with us