High-throughput sequencing identification and characterization of potentially adhesion-related small RNAs in Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

PurposeAdherence capacity is one of the principal virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans, and adhesion virulence factors are controlled by small RNAs (sRNAs) at the post-transcriptional level in various bacteria. Here, we aimed to identify and decipher putative adhesion-related sRNAs in clinical strains of S. mutans.MethodologyRNA deep-sequencing was performed to identify potential sRNAs under different adhesion conditions. The expression of sRNAs was analysed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and bioinformatic methods were used to predict the functional characteristics of sRNAs.ResultsA total of 736 differentially expressed candidate sRNAs were predicted, and these included 352 sRNAs located on the antisense to mRNA (AM) and 384 sRNAs in intergenic regions (IGRs). The top 7 differentially expressed sRNAs were successfully validated by qRT-PCR in UA159, and 2 of these were further confirmed in 100 clinical isolates. Moreover, the sequences of two sRNAs were conserved in other Streptococcus species, indicating a conserved role in such closely related species. A good correlation between the expression of sRNAs and the adhesion of 100 clinical strains was observed, which, combined with GO and KEGG, provides a perspective for the comprehension of sRNA function annotation.ConclusionThis study revealed a multitude of novel putative adhesion-related sRNAs in S. mutans and contributed to a better understanding of information concerning the transcriptional regulation of adhesion in S. mutans.

Role of LuxR‐type regulators in fish pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila

“…Adhesion is regarded as a crucial step in the pathogenesis of bacteria (Liu et al, ; Qin, Lin, Chen, Xu, & Yan, ; Zhu, Liu, Liu, Zhou, & Lin, ). Adhesion to host cells was found to be essential in Legionella pneumophila infection (Chang, Kura, Amemura‐Maekawa, Koizumi, & Watanabe, ).…”

Small noncoding RNA sRNA0426 is involved in regulating biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans

“…In a previous study, we established a library of 736 differentially expressed candidate sRNAs associated with initial adhesion in S. mutans UA159 by RNA deep sequencing (Zhu, Liu, Liu, Zhou, & Lin, 2018). Moreover, we observed a consistent correlation between the expression of sRNAs and initial adhesion ability in 100 clinical strains of S. mutans (Zhu et al, 2018). Initial adhesion is the first step in biofilm formation, the processes of which include reversible attachment, irreversible attachment, maturation, and dispersion (Hinsa, Espinosa-Urgel, Ramos, & O'Toole, 2003).…”

“…Additionally, Lee and Hong (2012) revealed more than 900 sRNAs and highlighted the importance of sRNAs in S. mutans. In a previous study, we established a library of 736 differentially expressed candidate sRNAs associated with initial adhesion in S. mutans UA159 by RNA deep sequencing (Zhu, Liu, Liu, Zhou, & Lin, 2018). Moreover, we observed a consistent correlation between the expression of sRNAs and initial adhesion ability in 100 clinical strains of S. mutans (Zhu et al, 2018).…”

“…The survey was conducted among 5-year-old children. A total of 215 clinical strains were isolated from 215 children with different caries status (Zhu et al, 2018). From these isolates, 10 clinical strains were randomly selected.…”

“…The top twenty significantly differentially expressed sRNAs were selected as candidates from our sRNA library established in a previous study (Zhu et al, 2018). These candidate sRNAs were further analyzed between planktonic and biofilm conditions of S. mutans at 24 h by qRT-PCR.…”