title: In vitro inhibition of Streptococci binding to enamel acquired pellicle by plant lectins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Initial colonization of the tooth surface by streptococci involves the attachment of these bacteria to adsorbed salivary components of the acquired pellicle. In dental biofilm this adhesion may also involve lectin-like components, present on the surface of the organisms, which bind to complementary carbohydrates on the surface of the tooth. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the potential of six lectins, extracted from seeds of Leguminosae family members, to inhibit the adherence of five streptococci species to acquired pellicle in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lectins used in this work were extracted from Canavalia ensiformis, Canavalia brasiliensis, Dioclea violacea, Dioclea grandiflora, Cratylia floribunda and Vatairea macrocarpa. Fluorescence micrography was employed to visualize the ability of FITC-labeled lectins to attach to acquire pellicle. Adherence inhibition was performed on saliva-coated microtiter plates at which lectins solutions were previously incubated followed by incubation with the oral streptococci. Glucose-mannose specific lectins attached to acquired pellicle with high intensity, while galactose specific lectins, from V. macrocarpa, exhibits low intensity attachment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All lectins were able to inhibit the adherence of the microorganisms tested (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that lectins may be useful in anti adhesion therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Sobral, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Napimoga
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: R M S
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Havt
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: V P T
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cavada
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms; D044622:Dental Pellicle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C043014:Dioclea grandiflora lectin; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; C039268:lectin, Canavalia