Outer sheath associated proteins of the oral spirochete Treponema maltophilum

We recently cloned the major outer membrane protein of Treponema maltophilu m [Heuner. K., Choi, B.K.. Schade, R., Moter, A.. Otto, A., Gobel, U.B., J. Bacteriol. 181. 1025-1029]. Here we report the localization of the major s heath protein (Msp)A protein in T. maltophilum by immunogold electron micro scopy and its expression. Northern blot analysis revealed that mspA is expr essed constitutively as a monocistronic unit. The transcription initiation site of the mspA gene was identified by primer extension analysis. A furthe r screening of a genomic library of T. maltophilum with an anti-outer membr ane fraction antibody was done. We were able to clone DNA regions of T. mal tophilum encoding putative sugar transport operons and putative outer membr ane proteins of this oral treponeme which has a high prevalence in periodon tal lesions. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Pub lished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.