Construction of LuxS gene deletion of Streptococcus mutans and evaluation of the acid tolerance of the mutant / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To construct Streptococcus mutans UA159 mutants with deletion of LuxS gene related to quorum-sensing pathway and evaluate the aciduricity of the mutants. Methods Using S. mutans UA159 as materials, the PCR fragments of the upstream and downstream regions of LuxS and erythromycin resistance(Eymr) gene of PJT10 were cloned into plasmid PUC19. The resulting constructs were integrated into the chromosome of S. mutans. LuxS gene deletion mutant was then constructed in S. mutans by means of allelic exchange and selected for resistance to erythromycin. The aciduric ability of the mutant under different pH was measured and S. mutans UA159 was used as control. Results The LuxS-deleted status of S. mutans mutants were confirmed by various PCR and DNA sequencing. The results showed that Eymr gene take the place of LuxS gene, while the mutant can not induce bioluminescenece. The LuxS mutant strain displayed a decreased growth ability with the decreasing pH values compared to those of the wild-type strain UA159. Conclusion A LuxS-negative mutants of S. mutans is constructed. The LuxS quorum sensing system is involved in the regulation of aciduricity of S. mutans UA159.