Journal article
Cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans Glucan-Binding Protein Deletion Mutants
Oral health and dental management, Vol.12(4), pp.191-199
12/2013
PMCID: PMC4437697
PMID: 24390015
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans
is a principal etiologic agent in the development of dental caries due to its exceptional aciduric and acidogenic properties, and its ability to adhere and accumulate in large numbers on tooth surfaces in the presence of sucrose. Sucrose-dependent adherence is mediated by glucans, polymers of glucose synthesized from sucrose by glucosyltransferase (Gtf) enzymes.
S. mutans
makes several proteins that have the property of binding glucans. We hypothesized that three of these glucan-binding proteins (Gbps), Gbps A, C and D, contribute to the cariogenicity of
S. mutans
. A specific pathogen-free rat model was used to compare the cariogenicity of
S. mutans
UA130 and a panel of mutants with individual or multiple
gbp
gene deletions. The mutants were also evaluated
in vitro
for properties related to cariogenicity, such as acidogenicity, aciduricity, and adhesion to glucan. Only a subset of Gbp mutants were attenuated for cariogenicity, with the combined loss of Gbps A and C most affecting smooth surface caries. The attenuation of Gbp mutant strains was unlikely due to differences in acid-related properties since the mutants were at least as acidogenic and acid-tolerant as the parental strain. Additionally, loss of Gbps did not reduce adhesion to a pre-formed biofilm of
S. sanguinis
. Analyses of the caries data with
in vitro
biofilm properties previously determined for the mutant panel found correlations between cariogenicity and biofilm depth and substratum coverage. It is concluded that Gbps contribute to the cariogenicity of
S. mutans
through a mechanism that may involve alteration of biofilm architecture.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans Glucan-Binding Protein Deletion Mutants
- Creators
- David J Lynch - Dows Institute for Research, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa, USASuzanne M Michalek - Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USAMin Zhu - Dows Institute for Research, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa, USADavid Drake - Dows Institute for Research, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa, USAFang Qian - Dows Institute for Research, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa, USAJeffrey A Banas - Dows Institute for Research, University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Oral health and dental management, Vol.12(4), pp.191-199
- PMID
- 24390015
- PMCID
- PMC4437697
- ISSN
- 2247-2452
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2013
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry; Endodontics; Pediatric Dentistry; Dental Research
- Record Identifier
- 9984065978702771
Metrics
25 Record Views