RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Zhu, Wenhui A1 Liu, Shanshan A1 Liu, Jia A1 Zhou, Yan A1 Lin, HuancaiYR 2018 T1 High-throughput sequencing identification and characterization of potentially adhesion-related small RNAs in Streptococcus mutans JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 67 IS 5 SP 641 OP 651 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000718 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB Purpose. Adherence capacity is one of the principal virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans, and adhesion virulence factors are controlled by small RNAs (sRNAs) at the post-transcriptional level in various bacteria. Here, we aimed to identify and decipher putative adhesion-related sRNAs in clinical strains of S. mutans. Methodology. RNA deep-sequencing was performed to identify potential sRNAs under different adhesion conditions. The expression of sRNAs was analysed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and bioinformatic methods were used to predict the functional characteristics of sRNAs. Results. A total of 736 differentially expressed candidate sRNAs were predicted, and these included 352 sRNAs located on the antisense to mRNA (AM) and 384 sRNAs in intergenic regions (IGRs). The top 7 differentially expressed sRNAs were successfully validated by qRT-PCR in UA159, and 2 of these were further confirmed in 100 clinical isolates. Moreover, the sequences of two sRNAs were conserved in other Streptococcus species, indicating a conserved role in such closely related species. A good correlation between the expression of sRNAs and the adhesion of 100 clinical strains was observed, which, combined with GO and KEGG, provides a perspective for the comprehension of sRNA function annotation. Conclusion. This study revealed a multitude of novel putative adhesion-related sRNAs in S. mutans and contributed to a better understanding of information concerning the transcriptional regulation of adhesion in S. mutans., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000718