title: The rational design of an anti-caries peptide against Streptococcus mutans.
abstract: The cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans attaches to tooth surfaces via a cell surface adhesin termed streptococcal antigen I/II (SA I/II). Mapping studies identified an adhesion epitope within residues 1025-1044. A synthetic peptide (p1025) spanning these residues inhibited adhesion of S. mutans in vitro and was tested in an in vivo human streptococcal adhesion model. Direct application of p1025 to the teeth prevented recolonisation of the oral cavity by S. mutans but not Actinomyces naeslundii. This review also describes various other adhesion-inhibiting peptides have been identified in vitro. We suggest that adhesion-blocking synthetic peptides may provide novel anti-infective agents. Topical application of such peptides at mucosal surfaces does not provide sustained selective pressure and in contrast to antibiotics, may not induce resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Immunology, GKT Dental Institute, Kings College, London, UK. justine.younson@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Justine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Younson
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015195:Drug Design; D018604:Epitope Mapping / Q000379:methods; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D006023:Glycoproteins; C439649:IDG-60 protein, Streptococcus mutans; D010455:Peptides; C067118:GTF-I protein, Streptococcus