{
  "abstract": "Streptococcus mutans is a key cariogenic bacterium that forms robust biofilms on tooth surfaces, playing a central role in dental caries. Biofilm development is mediated by multiple genes, including adhesion factors ( spaP ), glucan synthesis enzymes ( gtfB , gtfC ), glucan-binding proteins ( gbpC ), and regulatory pathways such as the quorum sensing comCDE system, the two-component vicRK system, and the alternative sigma factor sigX . In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of publicly available RNA-Seq datasets derived from dental plaque samples of caries-active and healthy individuals (n = 14, NCBI SRA) to identify key gene expression changes and regulatory networks associated with cariogenic biofilm formation. A total of 412 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 237 upregulated and 175 downregulated in caries-active samples. Notably, canonical biofilm-associated genes were highly upregulated: spaP (log2FC = +3.14), gtfB (log2FC = +2.87), gtfC (log2FC = +2.54), and gbpC (log2FC = +2.96). Quorum sensing regulators comC (log2FC = +1.45) and comE (log2FC = +0.98) were induced, while comD (log2FC = −0.87) was moderately downregulated. Functional enrichment analysis revealed significant involvement of pathways in quorum sensing, two-component signaling, carbohydrate metabolism, and oxidative stress response. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified a module strongly correlated with the caries phenotype (r = 0.85), containing SMU_RS10050 as a potential novel regulatory hub. These results provide a systems-level understanding of S. mutans biofilm regulatory mechanisms in clinical datasets and highlight potential molecular targets for therapeutic intervention against cariogenic biofilms.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran; Corresponding author.",
    "Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran",
    "Department of Mathematics, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran",
    "Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mohsen Kazemi Hasanvand"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Darab Gholami Boroujeni"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Maryam Khosropour"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Hosein Alavi Eshkaftaki"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Matin Karbasion"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8cazvjyf8gfax.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.microb.2026.100808",
  "fulltext_url": "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950194626001548",
  "id": "8cazvjyf8gfax",
  "issns": [
    "2950-1946"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microb.2026.100808",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QR1-502"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3506|Oral microbiology and periodontitis research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221447125",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950194626001548/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-30",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8cazvjyf8gfax.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:44:38Z",
      "native_id": "e8c93ecf6a15453ab1bebc58fe22f043",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microb.2026.100808"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "lcc:QR1-502",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Integrated transcriptomic and network analysis identifies novel regulatory hubs driving biofilm formation in",
  "title_text": "Integrated transcriptomic and network analysis identifies novel regulatory hubs driving biofilm formation in",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:44:38Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8cazvjyf8gfax",
  "venue": "The Microbe",
  "versions": []
}