感受态与口腔链球菌多种表型间关系的研究进展

链球菌是人类口腔中最为常见的细菌类群之一,在口腔微生态平衡的维持与致病中发挥了重要作用。口腔链球菌中的大多数可以进入感受态,在此生理状态下,细菌可摄取环境中的DNA并整合进入自身基因组从而获得新的遗传表型或特性。大量研究表明,口腔链球菌的感受态调控通路不是孤立的,与生物膜形成、细菌素产生、耐酸、氧应激、细胞自溶和耐药性等多个表型的调控存在紧密关系,研究这些不同表型间的相互影响对理解口腔菌群稳态及防治疾病有重要意义。本文以变异链球菌、格氏链球菌、血链球菌和肺炎链球菌4种典型的口腔链球菌为代表,对感受态与口腔链球菌多种表型间关系的研究进展做一综述。

Research progress on the relationship between competence and phenotypic traits of oral Streptococci

Streptococci are the most common oral bacteria that play an important role in oral microbial ecology and pathogenicity. Most of oral streptococci can enter a specific physiological state known as competence, during which the bacteria can take up DNA from the environment and integrate it into their genome to gain new phenotypes. Many studies have shown that the competence regulatory pathways of oral streptococci are closely associated with their phenotypes including biofilm formation, bacteriocin production, acid resistance, oxidative stress, cell autolysis and drug resistance. Studies on the interplay among different phenotypes can not only advance the understanding of microbial interactions in the oral cavity, but also promote the management of oral infectious diseases. This review article summarizes the research progress on the relationship between competence and phenotypic traits of four typical oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.