Transcriptomic stress response in Streptococcus mutans following treatment with a sublethal concentration of chlorhexidine digluconate

ABSTRACT: Despite the widespread use of antiseptics such as chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) in dental practice and oral care, the risks of potential resistance toward antiseptics in oral bacteria have only been highlighted very recently. Since the molecular mechanisms behind antiseptic resistance or adaptation are not entirely clear yet and the bacterial stress response has not been investigated systematically so far, the aim of the present study was to investigate the transcriptomic stress response in Streptococcus mutans after treatment with CHX using RNA sequencing. Planktonic cultures of stationary phase S. mutans were treated with a sublethal dose of CHX (125 µg/mL) for 5 min. After treatment, RNA was extracted, and RNA sequencing was performed on the Illumina NextSeq 500. Differential expressed genes were analyzed and validated by qRT-PCR. The analysis of the differential gene expression following pathway analysis revealed a considerable number of genes and pathways significantly regulated in S. mutans after sublethal treatment with CHX. In summary, expression of 423 genes was up-regulated and 295 genes down-regulated after CHX treatment. Analysis of differentially expressed genes and significantly regulated pathways showed regulation of genes involved in purine nucleotide synthesis, biofilm formation, transport systems and stress responses. In conclusion, these results show an overview of the transcriptomic stress response in S. mutans upon exposure to CHX and give an insight in potential mechanisms that may result in development of resistances.

ORGANISM(S): Streptococcus mutans DSM 20523

PROVIDER: GSE197633 | GEO | 2022/03/30

REPOSITORIES: GEO