Difference in S. Mutans Serotype C Genomic Variability Comparing Pulsed Field Electrophoresis and Whole Genome Sequencing.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare in silico, the genetic variability of the restriction patterns obtained by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), with the global and specific patterns obtained from whole genome sequencing (WGS) of S. mutansserotype c and their relationship with their pathophysiology. Materials and Methods: Reactivated S. mutans UA159 (reference strain), isolates P20MB6, P21S6, P18C3 and P28MB7, molecularly identified as S. mutans, serotype c. Following DNA extraction, a PFGE was performed to determine genetic variability and analyze the clusters according to the pathophysiology of the strains. WGS bioinformatic analysis of the genome sequences and implementation of the MAUVE system, to identify the global and specific variability of the strains and its relationship with their pathophysiology. Results: In Streptococcus mutans, serotype c, PFGE showed variability between strains, but neither separate clusters according to their pathophysiology, nor indicate where the variability was. WGS evidenced the variability present in the sequences, contents and genomic order, associating these changes to the physiopathological behavior of the strains. Conclusion: PFGE is useful for screening bacterial safety and virulence. However, it cannot separate the bacterial clusters according to their pathophysiological behavior and thus partially identifies genetic variability. PFGE. Conversely, WGS unveils genetic variability and associate it to the pathophysiological behavior of the studied bacteria.