AUTHOR=Do Thuy , Sheehy Evelyn C. , Mulli Tonnie , Hughes Francis , Beighton David 

TITLE=Transcriptomic analysis of three Veillonella spp. present in carious dentine and in the saliva of caries-free individuals

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2015.00025

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2015.00025

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Veillonella</italic> spp. are predominant bacteria found in all oral biofilms. In this study, a metatranscriptomic approach was used to investigate the gene expression levels of three oral <italic>Veillonella</italic> spp. (<italic>V. parvula, V. dispar</italic> and <italic>V. atypica</italic>) in whole stimulated saliva from caries-free volunteers and in carious lesions (<italic>n</italic> = 11 for each group). In the lesions the greatest proportion of reads were assigned to <italic>V. parvula</italic> and genes with the highest level of expression in carious samples were those coding for membrane transport systems. All three <italic>Veillonella</italic> spp. increased expression of genes involved in the catabolism of lactate and succinate, notably the alpha- and beta-subunits of L(+)-tartrate dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.32). There was also significantly increased expression of histidine biosynthesis pathway in <italic>V. parvula</italic>, suggesting higher intra-cellular levels of histidine that could provide intra-cellular buffering capacity and, therefore, assist survival in the acidic environment. Various other systems such as potassium uptake systems were also up regulated that may aid in the survival and proliferation of <italic>V. parvula</italic> in carious lesions.</p>