Metatranscriptomic analysis of an in vitro biofilm model reveals strain-specific interactions among multiple bacterial species

ABSTRACTInteractions among bacteria can affect biofilm properties.Method: Here, we investigated the role of different bacteria in functional dysbiosis of an in vitro polymicrobial subgingival plaque model using both 16S rRNA and metatranscriptomic sequencing.Results: We found that high-virulence Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 had greater effects on the symbiotic species than the low-virulence P. gingivalis ATCC33277, and that Prevotella intermedia exacerbated the effects of W83. P. gingivalis significantly influenced the expression of genes related to metabolic pathways and quorum sensing of commensal oral species in a strain-specific manner. P. intermedia exerted synergistic effects with P. gingivalis W83 but antagonistic effects with strain ATCC33277, which may regulate the expression of virulence factors of P. gingivalis through the clp regulator.Discussion: The interaction networks indicated that the strongest correlation was between Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus mitis, which demonstrated th...