Dataset Information

Analysis of Small RNAs in Streptococcus mutans under Acid Stress-A New Insight for Caries Research.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the major clinical pathogen responsible for dental caries. Its acid tolerance has been identified as a significant virulence factor for its survival and cariogenicity in acidic conditions. Small RNAs (sRNAs) are recognized as key regulators of virulence and stress adaptation. Here, we constructed three libraries of sRNAs with small size exposed to acidic conditions for the first time, followed by verification using qRT-PCR. The levels of two sRNAs and target genes predicted to be bioinformatically related to acid tolerance were further evaluated under different acid stress conditions (pH 7.5, 6.5, 5.5, and 4.5) at three time points (0.5, 1, and 2 h). Meanwhile, bacterial growth characteristics and vitality were assessed. We obtained 1879 sRNAs with read counts of at least 100. One hundred and ten sRNAs were perfectly mapped to reported msRNAs in S. mutans. Ten out of 18 sRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. The survival of bacteria declined as the acid was increased from pH 7.5 to 4.5 at each time point. The bacteria can proliferate under each pH except pH 4.5 with time. The levels of sRNAs gradually decreased from pH 7.5 to 5.5, and slightly increased in pH 4.5; however, the expression levels of target mRNAs were up-regulated in acidic conditions than in pH 7.5. These results indicate that some sRNAs are specially induced at acid stress conditions, involving acid adaptation, and provide a new insight into exploring the complex acid tolerance for S. mutans.

SUBMITTER: Liu S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5037804 | biostudies-other | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Analysis of Small RNAs in Streptococcus mutans under Acid Stress-A New Insight for Caries Research.

Liu Shanshan S Tao Ye Y Yu Lixia L Zhuang Peilin P Zhi Qinghui Q Zhou Yan Y Lin Huancai H

International journal of molecular sciences 20160914 9

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the major clinical pathogen responsible for dental caries. Its acid tolerance has been identified as a significant virulence factor for its survival and cariogenicity in acidic conditions. Small RNAs (sRNAs) are recognized as key regulators of virulence and stress adaptation. Here, we constructed three libraries of sRNAs with small size exposed to acidic conditions for the first time, followed by verification using qRT-PCR. The levels of two sRNAs and target g ...[more]

PMID: 27649155

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Project description:Early childhood caries (ECC) is a chronic disease affecting the oral health of children globally. This disease is multifactorial, but a primary factor is cariogenic microorganisms such as Streptococcus mutans. Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encode small molecules with diverse biological activities that influence the development of many microbial diseases, including caries. The purpose of this study was to identify BGCs in S. mutans from a high-caries risk study population using whole-genome sequencing and assess their association with ECC. Forty representative S. mutans isolates were selected for genome sequencing from a large-scale epidemiological study of oral microbiology and dental caries in children from a localized Alabama population. A total of 252 BGCs were identified using the antiSMASH BGC-mining tool. Three types of BGCs identified herein-butyrolactone-like, ladderane-like, and butyrolactone-ladderane-like hybrid (BL-BGC)-have not been reported in S. mutans. These 3 BGCs were cross-referenced against public transcriptomics data, and were found to be highly expressed in caries subjects. Furthermore, based on a polymerase chain reaction screening for core BL genes, 93% of children with BL-BGC had ECC. The role of BL-BGC was further investigated by examining cariogenic traits and strain fitness in a deletion mutant using in vitro biofilm models. Deletion of the BL-BGC significantly increased biofilm pH as compared to the parent strain, while other virulence and fitness properties remained unchanged. Intriguingly, BL-BGC containing strains produced more acid, a key cariogenic feature, and less biofilm than the model cariogenic strain S. mutans UA159, suggesting the importance of this BL-BGC in S. mutans-mediated cariogenesity. The structure of any BL-BGC derived metabolites, their functions, and mechanistic connection with acid production remain to be elucidated. Nevertheless, this study is the first to report the clinical significance of a BL-BGC in S. mutans. This study also highlights pangenomic diversity, which is likely to affect phenotype and virulence.

Dataset Information

Analysis of Small RNAs in Streptococcus mutans under Acid Stress-A New Insight for Caries Research.

Publications

Analysis of Small RNAs in Streptococcus mutans under Acid Stress-A New Insight for Caries Research.

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