Sucrose substitutes affect the cariogenic potential of Streptococcus mutans biofilms.
Streptococcus mutans is considered the primary etiologic agent of dental caries and contributes significantly to the virulence of dental plaque, especially in the presence of sucrose. To avoid the role of sucrose on the virulence factors of S. mutans, sugar substitutes are commonly consumed because they lead to lower or no production of acids and interfere with biofilm formation. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of sugar substitutes in the cariogenic potential of S. mutans biofilms. Thus, in the presence of sucrose, glucose, sucralose and sorbitol, the biofilm mass was quantified up to 96 h, the pH of the spent culture media was measured, the expression of biofilm-related genes was determined, and demineralization challenge experiments were conduct in enamel fragments. The presence of sugars or sugar substitutes profoundly affected the expression of spaP, gtfB, gtfC, gbpB, ftf, vicR and vicX in either biofilm or planktonic cells. The substitution of sucrose induced a down-regulation of most genes involved in sucrose-dependent colonization in biofilm cells. When the ratio between the expression of biofilm and planktonic cells was considered, most of those genes were down-regulated in biofilm cells in the presence of sugars and up-regulated in the presence of sugar substitutes. However, sucralose but not sorbitol fulfilled the purpose of reducing the cariogenic potential of the diet since it induced the biofilm formation with the lowest biomass, did not change the pH of the medium and led to the lowest lesion depth in the cariogenic challenge.
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
S C
SC
Durso
L M
LM
Vieira
J N S
JN
Cruz
C S
CS
Azevedo
P H
PH
Rodrigues
M R L
MR
Simionato
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D018533:Biomass; D002326:Cariogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003470:Culture Media; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000382:microbiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000032:analysis; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000382:microbiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002326:Cariogenic Agents; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D037102:Lectins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D037521:Virulence Factors; C119939:YycF protein, Bacteria; C037937:glucan-binding proteins; D013012:Sorbitol; D013395:Sucrose; C026285:trichlorosucrose; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; C021451:inulosucrase; D005947:Glucose