Demonstration of human immunoglobulin G Fc-binding activity in oral bacteria

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1994 Mar;1(2):247-9. doi: 10.1128/cdli.1.2.247-249.1994.

Abstract

Nonimmune binding of immunoglobulins via the Fc fragment may reduce opsonization and phagocytosis of bacteria and is thus considered a virulence factor. The aim of this study was to investigate a wide range of oral bacterial strains for the presence of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc-binding activity. A total of 132 strains representing 40 different gram-positive and gram negative bacterial species were tested for IgG Fc-binding activity by using a fast and simple dot blot procedure with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated Fc fragments from human IgG. Neither the human nor animal biotype of Porphyromonas gingivalis possessed IgG Fc-binding activity. The strongest positive reaction of gram-negative species with the IgG Fc fragments were obtained with strains of Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Among the gram-positive bacteria tested, Peptostreptococcus micros, Lactobacillus spp., and several species of streptococci possessed IgG Fc-binding activity. In the present investigation, the ability of several oral bacterial species to bind IgG Fc fragments was demonstrated. This factor represents a potential virulence determinant as it may help pathogenic oral bacteria escape host defense mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites, Antibody*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / immunology*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / immunology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Mouth / immunology
  • Mouth / microbiology*
  • Periodontal Diseases / immunology
  • Periodontal Diseases / microbiology
  • Receptors, IgG / analysis*
  • Virulence / immunology

Substances

  • Receptors, IgG