Background
Streptococcus mutans
(
S.
mutans
) is a pivotal cariogenic pathogen contributing to its multiple virulence factors, one of which is synthesizing exopolysaccharides (EPS). VicK, a sensor histidine kinase, plays a major role in regulating genes associated with EPS synthesis and adhesion. Here we first identified an antisense
vicK
RNA (AS
vicK
) bound with
vicK
into double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).
Objective
This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of AS
vicK
in the EPS metabolism and cariogenesis of
S. mutans
.
Methods
The phenotypes of biofilm were detected by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gas chromatography-mass spectrometery (GC-MS) , gel permeation chromatography (GPC) , transcriptome analysis and Western blot. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-ip) assay and enzyme activity experiment were adopted to investigate the mechanism of AS
vicK
regulation. Caries animal models were developed to study the relationship between AS
vicK
and cariogenicity of
S. mutans.
Results
Overexpression of AS
vicK
can inhibit the growth of biofilm, reduce the production of EPS and alter genes and protein related to EPS metabolism. AS
vicK
can adsorb RNase III to regulate
vicK
and affect the cariogenicity of
S. mutans
.
Conclusions
AS
vicK
regulates
vicK
at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, effectively inhibits EPS synthesis and biofilm formation and reduces its cariogenicity
in
vivo
.
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