title: Lactobacillus-mediated interference of mutans streptococci in caries-free vs. caries-active subjects.
abstract: In order to assess whether naturally occurring oral lactobacilli have probiotic properties, lactobacilli were isolated from saliva and plaque from children and adolescents, with or without caries lesions. The interference capacities of these lactobacilli were investigated against a panel of 13 clinical isolates and reference strains of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, as well as against the subject's autologous mutans streptococci, using the agar-overlay technique. Lactobacillus-mediated inhibition differed significantly between the three subject groups (no caries, arrested caries, or active caries), demonstrating increased inhibition in subjects without present or previous caries experience compared to subjects with arrested caries or subjects presenting with frank lesions. Lactobacilli from subjects lacking S. mutans inhibited the growth of the test panel of mutans streptococci significantly better than lactobacilli from subjects who were colonized. Furthermore, subjects without caries experience harbored lactobacilli that more effectively repressed the growth of their autologous mutans streptococci. Twenty-three Lactobacillus spp. completely inhibited the growth of all mutans streptococci tested. Species with maximum interference capacity against mutans streptococci included Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Naturally occurring oral lactobacilli significantly inhibited the growth of both test strains of mutans streptococci and the subject's autologous mutans streptococci in vitro, and this effect was more pronounced in caries-free subjects.
authors: Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. charlotte.simark@odontologi.gu.se
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Simark-Mattsson
authors: Claes-Göran
authors: CG
authors: Emilson
authors: Eva Grahn
authors: EG
authors: Håkansson
authors: Catharina
authors: C
authors: Jacobsson
authors: Kristian
authors: K
authors: Roos
authors: Stig
authors: S
authors: Holm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000898:Antibiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013045:Species Specificity; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development*