Abstract
Oral infection with Porphyromonas (P.) gingivalis causes periodontitis that is manifested by the destruction of gingival connective tissues. Although a few types of antibiotics are effective against the infection, its use induces the appearance of drug-resistant bacteria. The present study shows that the fermented product of Aspergillus (A.) oryzae S-03, cultivated on the fat-removed soybean, inhibits the cell growth of the P. gingivalis. Likewise, the fermented product of the S-03 strain cultured for 26∼42 h displays an inhibitory activity to gingipain as a virulence factor of P. gingivalis. The activity is not lost even with heat treatment at 100°C for 15 min. We also demonstrate that the S-03 strain exhibits high protease activity. In addition, the strain does not produce aflatoxin because of the loss of a regulatory gene, aflR, necessary for the toxin biosynthesis.
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![]() | Figure 1.
PCR amplification specificity of the genomic DNA of A. oryzae S-03 using primers designed for the aflatoxin gene cluster. The primer sequences are shown in Table 1. Lanes: 1, aflT; 2, nor-1; 3, aflR; 4, norA; 5, avnA; 6, verB; 7, vbs
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![]() | Figure 2.
Southern blot analysis of the PstI-digested chromosomal DNA from Aspergillus species. The aflR fragment was used as a probe. The arrow indicates the molecular mass of the signals. Lanes 1, A. oryzae M-01; 2, A. oryzae W-52; 3, A. oryzae S-03. The M-01 and W-52 strains are classified into group 2 and group 1, respectively. The aflR gene found in the W-52 strain, but not in the M-01 and S-03 strains. |
![]() | Figure 3.
Activities of α-amylase and protease produced by A. oryzae. The detailed measurement method is described in the Materials and Methods section. Hatched rectangle, A. oryzae S-03. |
![]() | Figure 5.
Antibacterial activity produced by A. oryzae S-03 cultivated on the fat-removed soybeans. The supernatant fluid was obtained extraction of koji and applied on paper disc. 1, non-heat treated supernatant fluid; 2, the fluid treated with 100°C for 10 min; 3, the fluid treated with 60°C for 30 min. |
Table 1.
Primers used in this study
Table 2.
Activity of Rgp and Kgp proteases of P. gingivalis W83. The values are expressed as percentage of the activity determined in the absence of inhibitor.