Transposon insertion in Rothia dentocariosa

Rothia spp. are emerging as significant bacteria associated with oral health, with Rothia dentocariosa being one of the most prevalent species. However, there is a lack of studies examining these properties at the genetic level. This study aimed to establish a genetic modification platform for R. dentocariosa.

Rothia spp. were isolated from saliva samples collected from healthy volunteers. Subsequently, R. dentocariosa strains were identified through colony morphology, species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. The identified strains were then transformed with plasmid pJRD215, and the most efficient strain was selected. Transposon insertion mutagenesis was performed to investigate the possibility of genetic modifications.

A strain demonstrating high transforming ability, designated as R. dentocariosa LX16, was identified. This strain underwent transposon insertion mutagenesis and was screened for 5-fluoroorotic acid-resistant transposants. The insertion sites were confirmed using arbitrary primed PCR, gene-specific PCR, and Sanger sequencing.

This study marks the first successful genetic modification of R. dentocariosa. Investigating R. dentocariosa at the genetic level can provide insights into its role within the oral microbiome.