title: The anti-biofouling effect of polyphenols against Streptococcus mutans.
abstract: Biofouling is a process of surface colonization by microorganisms through cell adhesion and production of extracellular polymers (polysaccharides and proteins). It often causes serious problems in the chemical, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Recently, it was demonstrated that some natural phenolic compounds found in plants and vegetables have an antibiofouling effect, reducing formation of biofilm by Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, Streptococcus mutans, a Gram-positive bacterium was investigated for the antibiofouling effect of polyphenols. It was hypothesized that the two enzymes, glucosyltransferase and fructosyltransferase, produced by S. mutans, would be inhibited by the natural phenolic compounds. When these two enzymes were inhibited, less (or no) biofilms were formed. Enzymes were separated from a S. mutans culture medium, and their activities were measured with five different polyphenols using microtiter-plates and high-performance liquid chromatography. The results of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were used to determine the enzyme inhibition effect of polyphenols on biofilm formation without killing the cells. Most of the polyphenols used showed considerable reduction of biofilm formation. Gallic acid and tannic acid showed significant enzyme inhibition effects below their MICs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA.
authors.forename: Varunraj
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sendamangalam
authors.forename: One Kyun
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dongshik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youngwoo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D013634:Tannins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D005707:Gallic Acid; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D013634:Tannins; C036655:1,3-alpha-D-glucan synthase; C021451:inulosucrase; D001426:Bacterial Proteins