Genomic and Transcriptomic Insights into Chlorhexidine Adaptation in Oral Streptococcus spp.: Implications for Antimicrobial Resistance

Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a widely used antiseptic agent in dental care due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. This study focuses on the transcriptomic changes associated with chlorhexidine adaptation in oral Streptococcus salivarius (73_wt, 73_a), Streptococcus vestibularis (78_wt, 78_e), and Streptococcus mitis (93_wt, 93_d) using RNA sequencing. Comparative gene expression profiling of wild-type streptococci and the corresponding strains adapted after prolonged exposure to CHX, with and without acute exposure to CHX.