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Drummond IY, DePaolo A, Krieger M, Driscoll H, Eckstrom K, Spatafora GA. Small regulatory RNAs are mediators of the Streptococcus mutans SloR regulon. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0017223. [PMID: 37695854 PMCID: PMC10521355 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00172-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dental caries is among the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. Streptococcus mutans, the chief causative agent of caries, uses a 25-kDa manganese-dependent SloR protein to coordinate the uptake of essential manganese with the transcription of its virulence attributes. Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) can either enhance or repress gene expression, and reports in the literature ascribe an emerging role for sRNAs in the environmental stress response. Herein, we focused our attention on 18-50 nt sRNAs as mediators of the S. mutans SloR and manganese regulons. Specifically, the results of RNA sequencing revealed 19 sRNAs in S. mutans, which were differentially transcribed in the SloR-proficient UA159 and SloR-deficient GMS584 strains, and 10 sRNAs that were differentially expressed in UA159 cells grown in the presence of low vs high manganese. We describe SmsR1532 and SmsR1785 as SloR- and manganese-responsive sRNAs that are processed from large transcripts and that bind SloR directly in their promoter regions. The predicted targets of these sRNAs include regulators of metal ion transport, growth management via a toxin-antitoxin operon, and oxidative stress tolerance. These findings support a role for sRNAs in coordinating intracellular metal ion homeostasis with virulence gene control in an important oral cariogen. IMPORTANCE Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are critical mediators of environmental signaling, particularly in bacterial cells under stress, but their role in Streptococcus mutans is poorly understood. S. mutans, the principal causative agent of dental caries, uses a 25-kDa manganese-dependent protein, called SloR, to coordinate the regulated uptake of essential metal ions with the transcription of its virulence genes. In the present study, we identified and characterized sRNAs that are both SloR and manganese responsive. Taken together, this research can elucidate the details of regulatory networks that engage sRNAs in an important oral pathogen and that can enable the development of an effective anti-caries therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Madeline Krieger
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Heather Driscoll
- Department of Biology, Vermont Biomedical Research Network, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, USA
| | - Korin Eckstrom
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
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Zheng T, Jing M, Gong T, Yan J, Wang X, Xu M, Zhou X, Zeng J, Li Y. Regulatory mechanisms of exopolysaccharide synthesis and biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans. J Oral Microbiol 2023; 15:2225257. [PMID: 37346997 PMCID: PMC10281425 DOI: 10.1080/20002297.2023.2225257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dental caries is a chronic, multifactorial and biofilm-mediated oral bacterial infection affecting almost every age group and every geographical region. Streptococcus mutans is considered an important pathogen responsible for the initiation and development of dental caries. It produces exopolysaccharides in situ to promote the colonization of cariogenic bacteria and coordinate dental biofilm development. Objective The understanding of the regulatory mechanism of S. mutans biofilm formation can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of caries. Design At present, an increasing number of studies have identified many regulatory systems in S. mutans that regulate biofilm formation, including second messengers (e.g. c-di-AMP, Ap4A), transcription factors (e.g. EpsR, RcrR, StsR, AhrC, FruR), two-component systems (e.g. CovR, VicR), small RNA (including sRNA0426, srn92532, and srn133489), acetylation modifications (e.g. ActG), CRISPR-associated proteins (e.g. Cas3), PTS systems (e.g. EIIAB), quorum-sensing signaling system (e.g. LuxS), enzymes (including Dex, YidC, CopZ, EzrA, lmrB, SprV, RecA, PdxR, MurI) and small-molecule metabolites. Results This review summarizes the recent progress in the molecular regulatory mechanisms of exopolysaccharides synthesis and biofilm formation in S. mutans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Meiling Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiangchuan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaowan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mai Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jumei Zeng
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Drummond IY, DePaolo A, Krieger M, Driscoll H, Eckstrom K, Spatafora GA. Small regulatory RNAs are mediators of the Streptococcus mutans SloR regulon. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.02.543485. [PMID: 37398324 PMCID: PMC10312646 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Dental caries is among the most prevalent chronic infectious diseases worldwide. Streptococcus mutans , the chief causative agent of caries, uses a 25 kDa manganese dependent SloR protein to coordinate the uptake of essential manganese with the transcription of its virulence attributes. Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) can either enhance or repress gene expression and reports in the literature ascribe an emerging role for sRNAs in the environmental stress response. Herein, we identify 18-50 nt sRNAs as mediators of the S. mutans SloR and manganese regulons. Specifically, the results of sRNA-seq revealed 56 sRNAs in S. mutans that were differentially transcribed in the SloR-proficient UA159 and SloR-deficient GMS584 strains, and 109 sRNAs that were differentially expressed in UA159 cells grown in the presence of low versus high manganese. We describe SmsR1532 and SmsR1785 as SloR- and/or manganese-responsive sRNAs that are processed from large transcripts, and that bind SloR directly in their promoter regions. The predicted targets of these sRNAs include regulators of metal ion transport, growth management via a toxin-antitoxin operon, and oxidative stress tolerance. These findings support a role for sRNAs in coordinating intracellular metal ion homeostasis with virulence gene control in an important oral cariogen. IMPORTANCE Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are critical mediators of environmental signaling, particularly in bacterial cells under stress, but their role in Streptococcus mutans is poorly understood. S. mutans, the principal causative agent of dental caries, uses a 25 kDa manganese-dependent protein, called SloR, to coordinate the regulated uptake of essential metal ions with the transcription of its virulence genes. In the present study, we identified and characterize sRNAs that are both SloR- and manganese-responsive. Taken together, this research can elucidate the details of regulatory networks that engage sRNAs in an important oral pathogen, and that can enable the development of an effective anti-caries therapeutic.
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Lu Y, Lei L, Deng Y, Zhang H, Xia M, Wei X, Yang Y, Hu T. RNase III coding genes modulate the cross-kingdom biofilm of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:957879. [PMID: 36246231 PMCID: PMC9563999 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.957879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans constantly coexists with Candida albicans in plaque biofilms of early childhood caries (ECC). The progression of ECC can be influenced by the interactions between S. mutans and C. albicans through exopolysaccharides (EPS). Our previous studies have shown that rnc, the gene encoding ribonuclease III (RNase III), is implicated in the cariogenicity of S. mutans by regulating EPS metabolism. The DCR1 gene in C. albicans encodes the sole functional RNase III and is capable of producing non-coding RNAs. However, whether rnc or DCR1 can regulate the structure or cariogenic virulence of the cross-kingdom biofilm of S. mutans and C. albicans is not yet well understood. By using gene disruption or overexpression assays, this study aims to investigate the roles of rnc and DCR1 in modulating the biological characteristics of dual-species biofilms of S. mutans and C. albicans and to reveal the molecular mechanism of regulation. The morphology, biomass, EPS content, and lactic acid production of the dual-species biofilm were assessed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and transcriptomic profiling were performed to unravel the alteration of C. albicans virulence. We found that both rnc and DCR1 could regulate the biological traits of cross-kingdom biofilms. The rnc gene prominently contributed to the formation of dual-species biofilms by positively modulating the extracellular polysaccharide synthesis, leading to increased biomass, biofilm roughness, and acid production. Changes in the microecological system probably impacted the virulence as well as polysaccharide or pyruvate metabolism pathways of C. albicans, which facilitated the assembly of a cariogenic cross-kingdom biofilm and the generation of an augmented acidic milieu. These results may provide an avenue for exploring new targets for the effective prevention and treatment of ECC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yalan Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengying Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xi Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Yingming Yang,
| | - Tao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Preventive Dentistry, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Tao Hu,
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Yan XY, Yao JP, Li YQ, Zhang W, Xi MH, Chen M, Li Y. Global trends in research on miRNA–microbiome interaction from 2011 to 2021: A bibliometric analysis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:974741. [PMID: 36110534 PMCID: PMC9468484 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.974741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of research suggests that the microRNA (miRNA)–microbiome interaction plays an essential role in host health and diseases. This bibliometric analysis aimed to identify the status of global scientific output, research hotspots, and frontiers regarding the study of miRNA–microbiome interaction over the past decade. We retrieved miRNA–microbiome-related studies published from 2011 to 2021 from the Web of Science Core Collection database; the R package bibliometrix was used to analyze bibliometric indicators, and VOSviewer was used to visualize the field status, hotspots, and research trends of miRNA–microbiome interplay. In total, 590 articles and reviews were collected. A visual analysis of the results showed that significant increase in the number of publications over time. China produced the most papers, and the United States contributed the highest number of citations. Shanghai Jiaotong University and the University of California Davis were the most active institutions in the field. Most publications were published in the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology. Yu Aiming was the most prolific writer, as indicated by the h-index and m-index, and Liu Shirong was the most commonly co-cited author. A paper published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2017 had the highest number of citations. The keywords “expression” and “gut microbiota” appeared most frequently, and the top three groups of diseases that appeared among keywords were cancer (colorectal, et al.), inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), and neurological disorders (anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, et al.). This bibliometric study revealed that most studies have focused on miRNAs (e.g., miR-21, miR-155, and miR-146a), gut microbes (e.g., Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, and Fusobacterium nucleatum), and gut bacteria metabolites (e.g., butyric acid), which have the potential to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of diseases. We found that therapeutic strategies targeting the miRNA–microbiome axis focus on miRNA drugs produced in vitro; however, some studies suggest that in vivo fermentation can greatly increase the stability and reduce the degradation of miRNA. Therefore, this method is worthy of further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Yun Yan
- The Third Hospital/Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun-Peng Yao
- The Third Hospital/Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan-Qiu Li
- The Third Hospital/Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Academic Affairs Office, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Meng-Han Xi
- The Third Hospital/Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Chen
- Clinical Medicine School, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Li
- The Third Hospital/Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Li,
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