The Glycosylation of Dichelobacter nodosus Fimbriae

Footrot is an infectious and contagious disease of ruminants caused by the bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus. This economically important disease is recognized and investigated in New Zealand, Australia and farming countries of the world and the disease has an impact on the productivity of the sheep industries of countries. The primary aim of this book is to investigate the relationship between the calculated molecular weight of D. nodosus fimbrial subunit proteins (Mw) and their weight determined by electrophoresis on SDS-PAGE (Mr). The discrepancy between Mw and Mr of fimbrial subunits suggests modification of the amino acid sequences of the fimA gene. To achieve this aim D. nodosus strains from sheep with footrot in New Zealand were isolated. Fimbrial proteins were isolated and glycosylation of these proteins was studied with carbohydrate detecting stain and by using enzymatic deglycosylation reactions. The book also includes a literature review on the properties of D. nodosus, potential virulence factors, type-IV fimbriae, and evidence for the post-translational modification of fimbriae. The book aims at reaching relevant scientists.