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Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation, extracellular polysaccharide production, and virulence by an oxazole derivative

  • Applied microbial and cell physiology
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Abstract

Dental caries, a biofilm-related oral disease, is a result of disruption of the microbial ecological balance in the oral environment. Streptococcus mutans, which is one of the primary cariogenic bacteria, produces glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) that synthesize extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs). The EPSs, especially water-insoluble glucans, contribute to the formation of dental plaque, biofilm stability, and structural integrity, by allowing bacteria to adhere to tooth surfaces and supplying the bacteria with protection against noxious stimuli and other environmental attacks. The identification of novel alternatives that selectively inhibit cariogenic organisms without suppressing oral microbial residents is required. The goal of the current study is to investigate the influence of an oxazole derivative on S. mutans biofilm formation and the development of dental caries in rats, given that oxazole and its derivatives often exhibit extensive and pharmacologically important biological activities. Our data shows that one particular oxazole derivative, named 5H6, inhibited the formation of S. mutans biofilms and prevented synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides by antagonizing Gtfs in vitro, without affecting the growth of the bacteria. In addition, topical applications with the inhibitor resulted in diminished incidence and severity of both smooth and sulcal surface caries in vivo with a lower percentage of S. mutans in the animals’ dental plaque compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Our results showed that this oxazole derivative has the capacity to inhibit biofilm formation and cariogenicity of S. mutans.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to give our thanks to Sang-Joon Ahn (of the laboratory of Robert A. Burne at University of Florida, Gainesville, FL) for providing the gtf mutant strains. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31200985, 31400040 and 81470035), and State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases (SKLOD201414).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

      Lulu Chen, Zhi Ren, Xuedong Zhou & Yuqing Li

    2. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

      Lulu Chen & Jing Zou

    3. Department of Endodontics Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

      Zhi Ren

    4. Department of Structural Biology, Key Laboratory of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

      Jumei Zeng

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    1. Lulu Chen
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    Correspondence to Jing Zou or Yuqing Li.

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    Animal experiments in this study were approved by West China School of Stomatology Ethics Committee (WCCSSIRB-D-2014-013; Sichuan University, Chengdu, China).

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    The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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    Lulu Chen and Zhi Ren contributed equally to this work.

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    Chen, L., Ren, Z., Zhou, X. et al. Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation, extracellular polysaccharide production, and virulence by an oxazole derivative. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 100, 857–867 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-7092-1

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