Functional profiling in Streptococcus mutans: construction and examination of a genomic collection of gene deletion mutants.

ABSTRACT: A collection of tagged deletion mutant strains was created in Streptococcus mutans UA159 to facilitate investigation of the aciduric capability of this oral pathogen. Gene-specific barcoded deletions were attempted in 1432 open reading frames (representing 73% of the genome), and resulted in the isolation of 1112 strains (56% coverage) carrying deletions in distinct non-essential genes. As S. mutans virulence is predicated upon the ability of the organism to survive an acidic pH environment, form biofilms on tooth surfaces, and out-compete other oral microflora, we assayed individual mutant strains for the relative fitness of the deletion strain, compared with the parent strain, under acidic and oxidative stress conditions, as well as for their ability to form biofilms in glucose- or sucro

SUBMITTER: Quivey RG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4636983 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature