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Predicate | Object |
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rdf:type | |
lifeskim:mentions | |
pubmed:dateCreated |
1979-4-25
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pubmed:abstractText |
We have isolated a series of five proteins which appear to possess characteristic individual capacities for synthesizing dextrans and binding dextrans. Our suggestion that these proteins comprise an isozyme-like distribution of lectin and enzyme activities is, of course, very speculative and remains to be rigourously confirmed. However, the very identification of these several dextran binding proteins provides a biochemical basis to explain numerous observations suggesting that more than one mechanism for dextran binding is possessed by S. mutans (for instance: 24-27), especially the observations with mutants (24). These proteins probably are the molecular determinants of host infection by S. mutans and may prove to be potent immunogens for use in a vaccine. The presence of a dextran-binding lectin in S. mutans implicates this bacterial lectin in the earliest stage of infection: Attachment to host tissues. The multiplicity of proteins possessing characteristic dextran-synthesizing and dextran-binding capacities indicates the complexity of the adherence mechanisms evolved in S. mutans. Experiments with other bacteria (10-12, 28) suggest that bacterial lectins, in concert with host tissue carbohydrates, may be the molecular mediators of host recognition and subsequent initial attachment of bacterial cells to host tissues in non-pathogenic as well as pathogenic bacteria.
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pubmed:language |
eng
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pubmed:journal | |
pubmed:citationSubset |
IM
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pubmed:chemical | |
pubmed:status |
MEDLINE
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pubmed:issn |
0065-2598
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pubmed:author | |
pubmed:issnType |
Print
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pubmed:volume |
107
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pubmed:owner |
NLM
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pubmed:authorsComplete |
Y
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pubmed:pagination |
749-59
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pubmed:dateRevised |
2000-12-18
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pubmed:meshHeading | |
pubmed:year |
1978
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pubmed:articleTitle |
Multiple forms of dextran-binding proteins from Streptococcus mutans.
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pubmed:publicationType |
Journal Article
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