Streptococcus mutans regulates ubiquitin modification of Candida albicans in the bacterial-fungal interaction.

ABSTRACT: The ecological interplay between Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans within dental plaque biofilms is an important factor driving pathogenesis of dental caries. This study aimed to investigate S. mutans regulation of C. albicans growth and virulence through extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs) and modulation of ubiquitination, a key protein post-translational modification. We established a transwell co-culture model to enable "contact-independent" interactions between S. mutans and C. albicans. S. mutans EMVs were found to directly associate with C. albicans cells and promote biofilm formation and growth. Quantitative ubiquitination profiling revealed S. mutans dramatically alters the ubiquitination landscape in C. albicans. We identified 10,661 ubiquitination sites across the C. a

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11838896 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature