Transcriptome analysis of Streptococcus gordonii Challis DL1 indicates a role for the biofilm-associated fruRBA operon in response to Candida albicans.
Multiple levels of interkingdom signaling have been implicated in maintaining the ecological balance between Candida albicans and commensal streptococci to assure a state of oral health. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the initial streptococcal response to the presence of C. albicans that can initiate oral surface colonization and biofilm formation, hypha-forming cells were incubated with Streptococcus gordonii cells for 30 min to assess the streptococcal transcriptome response. A genome-wide microarray analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation of S. gordonii transcripts identified a number of genes, the majority of which were involved in metabolic functions that were differentially expressed in the presence of hyphae. The fruR, fruB, and fruA genes encoding the transcriptional regulator, fructose-1-phosphate kinase, and fructose-specific permease, respectively, of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent fructose phosphotransferase system, were consistently upregulated. An S. gordonii mutant in which these genes were deleted by allelic replacement formed an architecturally distinct, less robust biofilm with C. albicans than did parental strain cells. Complementing the mutant with plasmid borne fruR, fruB, and fruA genes caused phenotype reversion, indicating that the genes in this operon played a role in dual-species biofilm formation. This genome-wide analysis of the S. gordonii transcriptional response to C. albicans has identified several genes that have potential roles in interkingdom signaling and responses.
Department of Oral Biology and Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
A M
AM
Jesionowski
Department of Oral Biology and Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
J M
JM
Mansfield
School of Oral and Dental Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
J L
JL
Brittan
School of Oral and Dental Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
H F
HF
Jenkinson
Department of Oral Biology and Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
M M
MM
Vickerman
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005636:Fructosephosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D025301:Hyphae / Q000502:physiology; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009876:Operon; D010731:Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System / Q000235:genetics; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1 / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054773:Streptococcus gordonii / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005636:Fructosephosphates; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; C098926:fructose permease; C032284:fructose-1-phosphate; D010731:Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1; C068652:1-phosphofructokinase
coaggregation; interkingdom signaling; messenger RNA; phosphotransferase system; polymicrobial communities