Project description:Dental caries is closely associated with the virulence of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). The stress adaptation of S. mutans in the fluctuating oral environment is critical to the virulence expression of this bacterium. Here we used whole-genome microarrays to profile the dynamic transcriptomic responses of S. mutans during physiological heat stress. We also evaluated the phenotypic changes, including initial biofilm formation, acid production and ATP turnover of S. mutans during heat stress. We found that S. mutans responded to heat stress in a distinct pattern, which featured a differential transcription of 885 genes in total and 114 “core” transcripts throughout the six post-exposure time points investigated (5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min and 60 min). Further gene ontology analysis showed that transcriptional changes of genes involved in transcriptional regulation and cellular homeostasis were critical for heat stress responses of S. mutans. In addition to those highly conserved heat-shock proteins, we observed differential expression of multiple transcriptional regulators. The expression of genes involved in sugar transport, soluble glucans biosynthesis (gtfC) and binding (gbpC) were upregulated, whereas genes involved in ABC transporters, insoluble glucans biosynthesis (gtfB) and binding (gbpB), which are critical for biofilm skeleton, were either down-regulated or unchanged. These results together with enhanced glycolytic activity, attenuated sucrose-dependent initial attachment and impaired biofilm architecture indicate metabolic adaptations by this bacterium to compensate the extra energy demand for a better fitness under adverse conditions. We used time series microarrays to detect the dynamic changes of S. mutans under heat stress. Mid-logarithmic phase cell cultures of S. mutans (OD600nm = 0.5) were incubated at 42℃ for 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min and 60 min, which were compared with the S. mutans cultured at 37℃. We applied three biological replicates at each time point.

Project description:Oral streptococci metabolize carbohydrate to produce organic acids, not only decrease the environmental pH, but also increase osmolality of dental plaque fluid due to tooth demineralization and consequent calcium and phosphate accumulation. Thus, to persevere in the dental plaque, acidogenic bacteria should evolve sophisticated molecular machineries to counter the detrimental effect of elevated osmolality. This study was aimed to obtain a global view on strategies taken by streptococcus mutans to deal with physiologically relevant elevated osmolality, and preserves within a cariogenic dental plaque. We investigated phenotypic change of S. mutans biofilm upon sub-lethal level of hyperosmotic challenge. We found that hyperosmotic condition was able to initiate S. mutans biofilm dispersal by reducing both microbial content and extracellular polysaccharides matrix. We then used DNA microarray with qPCR validation to systemically investigate the underlying molecular machinery of this bacteria in response to hyperosmotic stimuli. Among those identified 50 differentially regulated genes, down-regulation of gtfB and comC were believed to be responsible for the observed biofilm dispersal. Further analysis of microarray data showed significant up-regulation of genes and pathways involved in carbohydrates metabolism. Specific genes involved in heat shock response and acid tolerance were also upregulated, indicating potential cross-talk between hyperosmotic and other environmental stress. Based on the data obtained in this study, we believe that although hyperosmotic condition may induce significant stress response on S. mutans, this cariogenic bacterium has evolved sophisticated molecular machineries to counter those elicited detrimental effects. In the meantime, it will take full advantage of these environmental stimuli to better fit the fluctuating environments within oral cavity, and thus emerge as numeric-predominant bacteria under cariogenic conditions. A six-chip study using total RNA recovered from mid-logarithmic phase of S. mutans UA159 from three separate cultures of strains submitted for 15 minutes to hyperosmotic stimuli (0.4M NaCl) and three separate cultures of strains kept under no stress condition.

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Streptococcus mutans UA159

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