Justin Merritt &ndash; Publications

2019

An anaerobic bacterium host system for heterologous expression of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters

Hao, T., Xie, Z., Wang, M., Liu, L., Zhang, Y., Wang, W., Zhang, Z., Zhao, X., Li, P., Guo, Z., Gao, S., Lou, C., Zhang, G., Merritt, J., Horsman, G. P. & Chen, Y., Dec 1 2019, In : Nature communications. 10, 1, 3665.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Open Access

Anaerobic Bacteria

Multigene Family

Biological Products

genes

bacteria

At the Interface of Materials and Microbiology: A Call for the Development of Standardized Approaches to Assay Biomaterial-Biofilm Interactions

Kreth, J., Ferracane, J. L., Pfeifer, C. S., Khajotia, S. & Merritt, J., Jul 1 2019, In : Journal of dental research. 98, 8, p. 850-852 3 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Materials Testing

Streptococcus mutans

Composite Resins

Biocompatible Materials

Biofilms

Functional definition of NrtR, a remnant regulator of NAD ⁺ homeostasis in the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis

Wang, Q., Hassan, B. H., Lou, N., Merritt, J. & Feng, Y., May 1 2019, In : FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 33, 5, p. 6055-6068 14 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus suis

Zoonoses

Pathogens

NAD

Homeostasis

1 Citation (Scopus)

Genome-wide screening of potential RNase Y-processed mRNAs in the M49 serotype Streptococcus pyogenes NZ131

Chen, Z., Raghavan, R., Qi, F., Merritt, J. & Kreth, J., Apr 1 2019, In : MicrobiologyOpen. 8, 4, e00671.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Open Access

Streptococcus pyogenes

Ribonucleases

Genome

Messenger RNA

Streptococcus

2018

4 Citations (Scopus)

Distinct regulatory role of carbon catabolite protein A (CcpA) in oral streptococcal spxB expression

Redanz, S., Masilamani, R., Cullin, N., Giacaman, R. A., Merritt, J. & Kreth, J., Apr 1 2018, In : Journal of Bacteriology. 200, 8, e00619-17.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Staphylococcal Protein A

Carbon

Streptococcus gordonii

Carbohydrates

Streptococcus

5 Citations (Scopus)

Live and let die: Hydrogen peroxide production by the commensal flora and its role in maintaining a symbiotic microbiome

Redanz, S., Cheng, X., Giacaman, R. A., Pfeifer, C., Merritt, J. & Kreth, J., Jan 1 2018, (Accepted/In press) In : Molecular Oral Microbiology.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

lactate 2-monooxygenase

Microbiota

Hydrogen Peroxide

Pyruvate Oxidase

Oral Health

LytTR Regulatory Systems: A potential new class of prokaryotic sensory system

Zou, Z., Qin, H., Brenner, A. E., Raghavan, R., Millar, J. A., Gu, Q., Xie, Z., Kreth, J. & Merritt, J., Oct 1 2018, In : PLoS Genetics. 14, 10, p. e1007709

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

sensory system

operon

Operon

protein

Streptococcus mutans

6 Citations (Scopus)

Plasticity of the pyruvate node modulates hydrogen peroxide production and acid tolerance in multiple oral streptococci

Cheng, X., Redanz, S., Cullin, N., Zhou, X., Xu, X., Joshi, V., Koley, D., Merritt, J. & Kreth, J., Jan 1 2018, In : Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 84, 2, e01697-17.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

acid tolerance

Streptococcus gordonii

Streptococcus

Pyruvic Acid

hydrogen peroxide

2017

1 Citation (Scopus)

Identification of new degrons in Streptococcus mutans reveals a novel strategy for engineering targeted, controllable proteolysis

Liu, N., Chaudhry, M. T., Xie, Z., Kreth, J. & Merritt, J., Dec 19 2017, In : Frontiers in Microbiology. 8, DEC, 2572.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Proteolysis

Poisons

Proteins

Peptide Hydrolases

2 Citations (Scopus)

Interference of a speB 5′ untranslated region partial deletion with mRNA degradation in Streptococcus pyogenes

Chen, Z., Mashburn-Warren, L., Merritt, J., Federle, M. J. & Kreth, J., 2017, (Accepted/In press) In : Molecular Oral Microbiology.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

5' Untranslated Regions

Streptococcus pyogenes

RNA Stability

Messenger RNA

Ribonucleases

18 Citations (Scopus)

Mechanistic, genomic and proteomic study on the effects of BisGMA-derived biodegradation product on cariogenic bacteria

Sadeghinejad, L., Cvitkovitch, D. G., Siqueira, W. L., Merritt, J., Santerre, J. P. & Finer, Y., Feb 1 2017, In : Dental Materials. 33, 2, p. 175-190 16 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Propane

Biodegradation

Proteomics

Bacteria

Biofilms

1 Citation (Scopus)

Murein hydrolase LytF of Streptococcus sanguinis and the ecological consequences of competence development

Cullin, N., Redanz, S., Lampi, K., Merritt, J. & Kreth, J., Dec 1 2017, In : Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 83, 24, e01709-17.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus sanguinis

N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase

peptidoglycans

Biofilms

hydrolases

5 Citations (Scopus)

Natural competence is common among clinical isolates of Veillonella parvula and is useful for genetic manipulation of this key member of the oral microbiome

Knapp, S., Brodal, C., Peterson, J., Qi, F., Kreth, J. & Merritt, J., Apr 20 2017, In : Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology. 7, APR, 139.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Veillonella

Microbiota

Mental Competency

Veillonellaceae

Aptitude

4 Citations (Scopus)

Negative regulation of ectoine uptake and catabolism in Sinorhizobium meliloti: Characterization of the EhuR gene

Yu, Q., Cai, H., Zhang, Y., He, Y., Chen, L., Merritt, J., Zhang, S. & Dong, Z., 2017, In : Journal of Bacteriology. 199, 1, e00119-16.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Sinorhizobium meliloti

Operon

Genes

Surface Plasmon Resonance

ectoine

4 Citations (Scopus)

Recombineering in Streptococcus mutans using direct repeat-mediated cloning-independent markerless mutagenesis (DR-CIMM)

Zhang, S., Zou, Z., Kreth, J. & Merritt, J., May 23 2017, In : Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology. 7, MAY, 202.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Nucleic Acid Repetitive Sequences

Mutagenesis

Organism Cloning

Fenclonine

2016

1 Citation (Scopus)

Effect of salivary agglutination on oral streptococcal clearance by human polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes

Itzek, A., Chen, Z., Merritt, J. & Kreth, J., 2016, (Accepted/In press) In : Molecular Oral Microbiology.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Agglutination

Phagocytosis

Granulocytes

Neutrophils

Streptococcus gordonii

9 Citations (Scopus)

Let there be bioluminescence: Development of a biophotonic imaging platform for in situ analyses of oral biofilms in animal models

Merritt, J., Senpuku, H. & Kreth, J., Jan 1 2016, In : Environmental Microbiology. 18, 1, p. 174-190 17 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

bioluminescence

Biofilms

Luciferases

biofilm

mouth

6 Citations (Scopus)

Real-time assessment of Streptococcus mutans biofilm metabolism on resin composite

Esteban Florez, F. L., Hiers, R. D., Smart, K., Kreth, J., Qi, F., Merritt, J. & Khajotia, S. S., Oct 1 2016, In : Dental Materials. 32, 10, p. 1263-1269 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Composite Resins

Biofilms

Metabolism

Bioluminescence

20 Citations (Scopus)

The road less traveled - defining molecular commensalism with Streptococcus sanguinis

Kreth, J., Giacaman, R. A., Raghavan, R. & Merritt, J., 2016, (Accepted/In press) In : Molecular Oral Microbiology.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Symbiosis

Oral Health

Streptococcus

Mouth Diseases

Stomatognathic Diseases

2015

14 Citations (Scopus)

A YadA-like autotransporter, Hag1 in Veillonella atypica is a multivalent hemagglutinin involved in adherence to oral streptococci, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and human oral buccal cells

Zhou, P., Liu, J., Merritt, J. & Qi, F., Aug 1 2015, In : Molecular Oral Microbiology. 30, 4, p. 269-279 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Veillonella

Porphyromonas gingivalis

Cheek

Hemagglutinins

Streptococcus

1 Citation (Scopus)

RNA regulators of host immunity and pathogen adaptive responses in the oral cavity

Kreth, J., Liu, N., Chen, Z. & Merritt, J., Jul 1 2015, In : Microbes and Infection. 17, 7, p. 493-504 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Adaptive Immunity

Mouth

RNA

Explosions

4 Citations (Scopus)

RNases J1 and J2 are critical pleiotropic regulators in Streptococcus mutans

Chen, X., Liu, N., Khajotia, S., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., Apr 1 2015, In : Microbiology (Reading, England). 161, p. 797-806 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Ribonucleases

RNA Stability

Bacillus subtilis

Bacteria

20 Citations (Scopus)

The Streptococcus mutans irvA Gene Encodes a trans-Acting Riboregulatory mRNA

Liu, N., Niu, G., Xie, Z., Chen, Z., Itzek, A., Kreth, J., Gillaspy, A., Zeng, L., Burne, R., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., Jan 8 2015, In : Molecular Cell. 57, 1, p. 179-190 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Messenger RNA

Genes

5' Untranslated Regions

RNA Stability

2014

8 Citations (Scopus)

Ubiquitous sialometabolism present among oral fusobacteria

Yoneda, S., Loeser, B., Feng, J., Dmytryk, J., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., Jun 4 2014, In : PLoS One. 9, 6, e99263.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Fusobacteria

Fusobacterium nucleatum

sialic acids

N-Acetylneuraminic Acid

mouth

2013

9 Citations (Scopus)

Cloning-independent plasmid construction for genetic studies in streptococci

Xie, Z., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., 2013, In : Journal of Microbiological Methods. 94, 2, p. 77-82 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus

Genetic Vectors

Organism Cloning

Plasmids

10 Citations (Scopus)

Development of a tunable wide-range gene induction system useful for the study of streptococcal toxin-antitoxin systems

Xie, Z., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., 2013, In : Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 79, 20, p. 6375-6384 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

antitoxins

Antitoxins

Streptococcus mutans

Xylose

gene induction

2012

8 Citations (Scopus)

Establishment of a tractable genetic transformation system in Veillonella spp.

Liu, J., Xie, Z., Merritt, J. & Qi, F., May 2012, In : Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 78, 9, p. 3488-3491 4 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Veillonella

Genetic Transformation

genetic transformation

genetic vectors

Genetic Vectors

70 Citations (Scopus)

The mutacins of Streptococcus mutans: Regulation and ecology

Merritt, J. & Qi, F., Apr 2012, In : Molecular Oral Microbiology. 27, 2, p. 57-69 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Ecology

Bacteriocins

Biofilms

Tooth

2011

50 Citations (Scopus)

Cloning-independent and counterselectable markerless mutagenesis system in streptococcus mutans

Xie, Z., Okinaga, T., Qi, F., Zhang, Z. & Merritt, J., Nov 2011, In : Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 77, 22, p. 8025-8033 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

mutagenesis

Mutagenesis

Organism Cloning

molecular cloning

29 Citations (Scopus)

Differential response of Streptococcus mutans towards friend and foe in mixed-species cultures

Liu, J., Wu, C., Huang, I. H., Merritt, J. & Qi, F., Sep 2011, In : Microbiology. 157, 9, p. 2433-2444 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus gordonii

Down-Regulation

Growth

Veillonella

5 Citations (Scopus)

Genetic transformation of Veillonella parvula

Liu, J., Merritt, J. & Qi, F., Sep 2011, In : FEMS Microbiology Letters. 322, 2, p. 138-144 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Veillonella

Genetic Transformation

Mouth

Mutation

Electroporation

27 Citations (Scopus)

Hydrogen peroxide-dependent DNA release and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in Streptococcus gordonii

Itzek, A., Zheng, L., Chen, Z., Merritt, J. & Kreth, J., Dec 2011, In : Journal of Bacteriology. 193, 24, p. 6912-6922 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus gordonii

Microbial Drug Resistance

Hydrogen Peroxide

DNA

Genes

2010

54 Citations (Scopus)

Community and gene composition of a human dental plaque microbiota obtained by metagenomic sequencing

Xie, G., Chain, P. S. G., Lo, C. C., Liu, K. L., Gans, J., Merritt, J. & Qi, F., Dec 2010, In : Molecular Oral Microbiology. 25, 6, p. 391-405 15 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Metagenomics

Dental Plaque

Microbiota

Genes

Mouth Diseases

34 Citations (Scopus)

Examination of the hdrRM regulon yields insight into the competence system of Streptococcus mutans

Okinaga, T., Xie, Z., Niu, G., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., 2010, In : Molecular Oral Microbiology. 25, 3, p. 165-177 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Regulon

Streptococcus mutans

Mental Competency

Bacteriocins

Genes

34 Citations (Scopus)

Genomic island TnSmu2 of Streptococcus mutans harbors a nonribosomal peptide synthetase-polyketide synthase gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of pigments involved in oxygen and H2O2 tolerance

Wu, C., Cichewicz, R., Li, Y., Liu, J., Roe, B., Ferretti, J., Merritt, J. & Qi, F., Sep 2010, In : Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 76, 17, p. 5815-5826 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Peptide Synthases

Polyketide Synthases

genomic islands

polyketide synthases

Streptococcus mutans

29 Citations (Scopus)

Identification of a novel bacteriocin regulatory system in Streptococcus mutans

Xie, Z., Okinaga, T., Niu, G., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., Dec 2010, In : Molecular Microbiology. 78, 6, p. 1431-1447 17 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Bacteriocins

Streptococcus mutans

Operon

Membrane Proteins

Nucleic Acid Repetitive Sequences

47 Citations (Scopus)

Mutanobactin A from the human oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans is a cross-kingdom regulator of the yeast-mycelium transition

Joyner, P. M., Liu, J., Zhang, Z., Merritt, J., Qi, F. & Cichewicz, R. H., Dec 21 2010, In : Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry. 8, 24, p. 5486-5489 4 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

streptococcus

Streptococcus mutans

pathogens

metabolites

Mycelium

12 Citations (Scopus)

Regulation of ciaXRH operon expression and identification of the CiaR regulon in Streptococcus mutans

Wu, C., Ayala, E. A., Downey, J. S., Merritt, J., Goodman, S. D. & Qi, F., Sep 2010, In : Journal of Bacteriology. 192, 18, p. 4669-4679 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Regulon

Streptococcus mutans

Operon

Phenotype

Genes

39 Citations (Scopus)

The hdrRM operon of Streptococcus mutans encodes a novel regulatory system for coordinated competence development and bacteriocin production

Okinaga, T., Niu, G., Xie, Z., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., Apr 2010, In : Journal of Bacteriology. 192, 7, p. 1844-1852 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Bacteriocins

Streptococcus mutans

Operon

Mental Competency

Regulator Genes

5 Citations (Scopus)

The Streptococcus mutans IrvR repressor is a CI-like regulator that functions through autocleavage and Clp-dependent proteolysis

Niu, G., Okinaga, T., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., Mar 2010, In : Journal of Bacteriology. 192, 6, p. 1586-1595 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Proteolysis

Lysogeny

Amino Acids

Aptitude

2009

22 Citations (Scopus)

Autoaggregation response of Fusobacterium nucleatum

Merritt, J., Niu, G., Okinaga, T. & Qi, F., Dec 2009, In : Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 75, 24, p. 7725-7733 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Fusobacterium nucleatum

inhibitor

gene

mouth

saliva

87 Citations (Scopus)

Bacterial and host interactions of oral streptococci

Kreth, J., Merritt, J. & Qi, F., Aug 1 2009, In : DNA and Cell Biology. 28, 8, p. 397-403 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Biofilms

Streptococcus

Mouth Diseases

Ecology

Immune System

15 Citations (Scopus)

Genes involved in the repression of mutacin I production in Streptococcus mutans

Nguyen, T., Zhang, Z., Huang, I. H., Wu, C., Merritt, J., Shi, W. & Qi, F., Jan 1 2009, In : Microbiology. 155, 2, p. 551-556 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Genes

Clone Cells

Bacteriocins

Mutation

14 Citations (Scopus)

Role of the Streptococcus mutans irvA gene in GbpC-independent, dextran-dependent aggregation and biofilm formation

Zhu, M., Ajdić, D., Liu, Y., Lynch, D., Merritt, J. & Banas, J. A., Nov 2009, In : Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 75, 22, p. 7037-7043 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

dextran

Biofilms

Dextrans

biofilm

2008

20 Citations (Scopus)

Characterization of irvR, a novel regulator of the irvA-dependent pathway required for genetic competence and dextran-dependent aggregation in Streptococcus mutans

Niu, G., Okinaga, T., Zhu, L., Banas, J., Qi, F. & Merritt, J., Nov 2008, In : Journal of Bacteriology. 190, 21, p. 7268-7274 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Dextrans

Mental Competency

Mutation

Genetic Vectors

62 Citations (Scopus)

Immunological evaluation of Lactobacillus casei Zhang: A newly isolated strain from koumiss in Inner Mongolia, China

Ya, T., Zhang, Q., Chu, F., Merritt, J., Bilige, M., Sun, T., Du, R. & Zhang, H., Nov 19 2008, In : BMC Immunology. 9, 68.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Lactobacillus casei

Lactobacillus

China

Probiotics

Hot Temperature

38 Citations (Scopus)

Role of sucrose in the fitness of Streptococcus mutans

Kreth, J., Zhu, L., Merritt, J., Shi, W. & Qi, F., Jun 2008, In : Oral Microbiology and Immunology. 23, 3, p. 213-219 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Sucrose

Dental Caries

Biofilms

Carbohydrates

22 Citations (Scopus)

The cia operon of Streptococcus mutans encodes a unique component required for calcium-mediated autoregulation

He, X., Wu, C., Yarbrough, D., Sim, L., Niu, G., Merritt, J., Shi, W. & Qi, F., Oct 2008, In : Molecular Microbiology. 70, 1, p. 112-126 15 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Operon

Homeostasis

Calcium

Phenotype

2007

17 Citations (Scopus)

Construction of a counterselection-based in-frame deletion system for genetic studies of Streptococcus mutans

Merritt, J., Tsang, P., Zheng, L., Shi, W. & Qi, F., Apr 2007, In : Oral Microbiology and Immunology. 22, 2, p. 95-102 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Galactose

Plasmids

Galactosidases

Lac Operon

22 Citations (Scopus)

Genetic characterization of the hdrRM operon: A novel high-cell-density-responsive regulator in Streptococcus mutans

Merritt, J., Zheng, L., Shi, W. & Qi, F., Aug 2007, In : Microbiology. 153, 8, p. 2765-2773 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Streptococcus mutans

Operon

Cell Count

Bacteriocins

Biofilms