Journal article
Porphyromonas endodontalis binds, reduces and grows on human hemoglobin
Oral microbiology and immunology, Vol.16(4), pp.229-234
Accepted for publication September 16, 2000
08/2001
DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-302X.2001.160406.x
PMID: 11442848
Abstract
Porphyromonas endodontalis is a black-pigmented, obligate anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium implicated as playing a major role in endodontic infections. We have previously shown that P. endondontalis requires the porphyrin nucleus, preferably supplied as hemoglobin, as a growth supplement. The bacteria also actively transport free iron, although this activity does not support growth in the absence of a porphyrin source. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the binding and subsequent utilization of human hemoglobin by P. endodontalis. P. endodontalis binds hemoglobin and reduces the Fe(III) porphyrin, resulting in a steady accumulation of ferrous hemoglobin. Reduction of methemoglobin was similar to the extracellular reduction of nitrobluetetrazolium in the presence of oxidizable substrate. Turbidimetric and viable cell determinations showed that P. endodontalis grew when supplied only hemoglobin. Therefore, we conclude that hemoglobin appears to serve as a sole carbon and nitrogen source, and that these bacteria reduce extracellular compounds at the expense of oxidized substrates.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Porphyromonas endodontalis binds, reduces and grows on human hemoglobin
- Creators
- M. Zerr - University of IowaD. Drake - Dows Institute for Dental Research, College of Dentistry, andW. Johnson - Dows Institute for Dental Research, College of Dentistry, andC. D. Cox - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Oral microbiology and immunology, Vol.16(4), pp.229-234
- Edition
- Accepted for publication September 16, 2000
- Publisher
- Munksgaard International Publishers
- DOI
- 10.1034/j.1399-302X.2001.160406.x
- PMID
- 11442848
- ISSN
- 0902-0055
- eISSN
- 1399-302X
- Number of pages
- 6
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2001
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Endodontics; Dental Research
- Record Identifier
- 9984367620202771
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