Gene expression profile of Scardovia spp. in the metatranscriptome of root caries

A few investigations of caries biofilms have identified Scardovia spp.; however, little is known about its involvement in caries pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to assess the gene expression profile of Scardovia spp. in root caries, and compare it with other microorganisms. Clinical samples from active root caries lesions were collected. Microbial mRNA was isolated and cDNA sequenced. The function and composition of the Scardovia were investigated using two methods: a) de novo assembly of the read data and mapping to contigs, and b) reads mapping to reference genomes. Pearson correlation was performed (p < 0.05). Proportion of Scardovia inopinata and Scardovia wiggsiae sequences ranged from 0-6% in the root caries metatranscriptome. There was a positive correlation between the transcriptome of Lactobacillus spp. and Scardovia spp. (r = 0.70; p = 0.03), as well as with other Bifidobacteriaceae (r = 0.91; p = 0.0006). Genes that code for fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase (the key enzyme for “Bifid shunt”), as well as ABC transporters and glycosyl-hydrolases were highly expressed. In conclusion, “Bifid shunt” and starch metabolism are involved in carbohydrate metabolism of S. inopinata and S. wiggsiae in root caries. There is a positive correlation between the metabolism abundance of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacteriaceae members, and Scardovia in root caries

Actinomyces spp. gene expression in root caries lesions

Background: studies of the distribution of Actinomyces spp. on carious and non-carious root surfaces have not been able to confirm the association of these bacteria with root caries, although they were extensively implicated as a prime suspect in root caries. Objective: the aim of this study was to observe the gene expression of Actinomyces spp. in the microbiota of root surfaces with and without caries. Design: the oral biofilms from exposed sound root surface (SRS; n=10) and active root caries (RC; n=30) samples were collected. The total bacterial RNA was extracted and the mRNA was isolated. Samples with low RNA concentration were pooled, yielding a final sample size of SRS=10 and RC=9. cDNA libraries were prepared and sequenced on the Illumina Hi-Seq2500. Sequence reads were mapped to eight Actinomyces genomes. Count data were normalized using DESeq2 to analyse differential gene expression applying the Benjamini-Hochberg correction (FDR0.05), except for Actinomyces OT178 (p=0.001) and A. gerencseriae (p=0.004), which had higher read count in the SRS. Genes that code for stress proteins (clp, dnaK and groEL), enzymes of glycolysis pathways (including, enolase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), adhesion (Type-2 fimbrial and collagen-binding protein) and cell growth (EF-Tu) were highly, but not differentially (p>0.001) expressed in both groups. Genes with the most significant up-regulation in RC were those coding for hypothetical proteins and uracil DNA glycosylase (p=2.61E-17). The gene with the most significant up-regulation in SRS was a peptide ABC transporter substrate-binding protein (log2FC= -6.00, FDR= 2.37E-05). Conclusion: there were similar levels of Actinomyces gene expression in both sound and carious root biofilms. These bacteria can be commensal in root surface sites, but may be cariogenic due to survival mechanisms allowing them to exist in acid environment and metabolize sugars saving energy

Inequalities in public water supply fluoridation in Brazil: An ecological study

Background. The literature is scarce on the social and geographic inequalities in the access to and implementation of the fluoridation of public water supplies. This study adds knowledge to the Brazilian experience of the chronic privation of water and wastewater policies, access to potable water and fluoridation in the country. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify possible inequalities in the population's access to fluoridated drinking water in 246 Brazilian municipalities. Methods. The information on the process of water fluoridation in the municipalities and in the macro region in which each municipality is located was obtained from the national epidemiological survey which was concluded in 2003. The data relating to the human development index at municipal level (HDI-M) and access to mains water came from the Brazilian Human Development Atlas, whilst the size of the population was obtained from a governmental source. The Fisher exact test (P < 0.05) was employed to identify significant associations between the explanatory variables and their ability to predict the principal outcomes of interest to this study, namely the presence or absence of the water fluoridation process in the municipalities as well as the length of time during which this measure has been implemented. Linear regression was used to observe the associations between the relevant variables in a multivariate environment. Results. The results clearly showed that there is a relationship between municipalities with larger populations, located in more socio-economically advantaged regions and with better HDI-M, and where fluoridation is both present and has been implemented for a longer period of time (started before 1990). Conclusion. 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