Multiple factors are involved in regulation of extracellular membrane vesicle biogenesis in Streptococcus mutans
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-3-2020
Publication Title
Molecular oral microbiology
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans, a major etiological agent of human dental caries, produces membrane vesicles (MVs) that contain protein and extracellular DNA. In this study, functional genomics, along with in vitro biofilm models, was used to identify factors that regulate MV biogenesis. Our results showed that when added to growth medium, MVs significantly enhanced biofilm formation by S. mutans, especially during growth in sucrose. This effect occurred in the presence and absence of added human saliva. Functional genomics revealed several genes, including sfp, which have a major effect on S. mutans MVs. In Bacillus sp. sfp encodes a 4′-phosphopantetheinyl transferase that contributes to surfactin biosynthesis and impacts vesiculogenesis. In S. mutans, sfp resides within the TnSmu2 Genomic Island that supports pigment production associated with oxidative stress tolerance. Compared to the UA159 parent, the Δsfp mutant, TW406, demonstrated a 1.74-fold (p < .05) higher MV yield as measured by BCA protein assay. This mutant also displayed increased susceptibility to low pH and oxidative stressors, as demonstrated by acid killing and hydrogen peroxide challenge assays. Deficiency of bacA, a putative surfactin synthetase homolog within TnSmu2, and especially dac and pdeA that encode a di-adenylyl cyclase and a phosphodiesterase, respectively, also significantly increased MV yield (p < .05). However, elimination of bacA2, a bacitracin synthetase homolog, resulted in a >1.5-fold (p < .05) reduction of MV yield. These results demonstrate that S. mutans MV properties are regulated by genes within and outside of the TnSmu2 island, and that as a major particulate component of the biofilm matrix, MVs significantly influence biofilm formation.
PubMed ID
33040492
Volume
36(1)
Recommended Citation
Wen, Zezhang T.; Jorgensen, Ashton N.; Huang, Xiaochang; Ellepola, Kassapa; Chapman, Lynne; Wu, Hui; and Brady, L Jeannine, "Multiple factors are involved in regulation of extracellular membrane vesicle biogenesis in Streptococcus mutans" (2020). School of Dentistry Faculty Publications. 53.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/sod_facpubs/53