Identification and analysis of potential targets in Streptococcus sanguinis using computer aided protein data analysis
Abstract
Purpose: Streptococcus sanguinis is a Gram-positive, facultative aerobic bacterium that is a
member of the viridans streptococcus group. It is found in human mouths in dental plaque,
which accounts for both dental cavities and bacterial endocarditis, and which entails a mortality
rate of 25%. Although a range of remedial mediators have been found to control this organism,
the effectiveness of agents such as penicillin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, and
erythromycin, was observed. The emphasis of this investigation was on finding substitute and
efficient remedial approaches for the total destruction of this bacterium.
Materials and methods: In this computational study, various databases and online software
were used to ascertain some specific targets of S. sanguinis. Particularly, the Kyoto Encyclopedia
of Genes and Genomes databases were applied to determine human nonhomologous proteins,
as well as the metabolic pathways involved with those proteins. Different software such as
Phyre2, CastP, DoGSiteScorer, the Protein Function Predictor server, and STRING were utilized
to evaluate the probable active drug binding site with its known function and protein–protein
interaction.
Results: In this study, among 218 essential proteins of this pathogenic bacterium, 81 nonho-
mologous proteins were accrued, and 15 proteins that are unique in several metabolic pathways
of S. sanguinis were isolated through metabolic pathway analysis. Furthermore, four essentially
membrane-bound unique proteins that are involved in distinct metabolic pathways were revealed
by this research. Active sites and druggable pockets of these selected proteins were investigated
with bioinformatic techniques. In addition, this study also mentions the activity of those proteins,
as well as their interactions with the other proteins.
Conclusion: Our findings helped to identify the type of protein to be considered as an efficient
drug target. This study will pave the way for researchers to develop and discover more effective
and specific therapeutic agents against S. sanguinis.
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- 2014 [3]