Bacteriocin-like activity of oral Fusobacterium nucleatum isolated from human and non-human primates

ABSTRACT

"Fusobacterium nucleatum" is indigenous of the human oral cavity and has been involved in different infectious processes. The production of bacteriocin-like substances may be important in regulation of bacterial microbiota in oral cavity. The ability to produce bacteriocin-like substances by 80 oral "F. nucleatum" isolates obtained from periodontal patients, healthy individuals and "Cebus apella" monkeys, was examinated. 17.5(per cent) of all tested isolates showed auto-antagonism and 78.8(per cent) iso- or hetero-antagonism. No isolate from monkey was capable to produce auto-inhibition. In this study, the antagonistic substances production was variable in all tested isolates. Most of the "F. nucleatum" showed antagonistic activity against tested reference strains. These data suggest a possible participation of these substances on the oral microbial ecology in humans and animals. However, the role of bacteriocins in regulating dental plaque microbiota "in vivo" is discussed