Nanoscale characterization of effect of L-arginine on Streptococcus mutans biofilm adhesion by atomic force microscopy.
A major aetiological factor of dental caries is the pathology of the dental plaque biofilms. The amino acid L-arginine (Arg) is found naturally in saliva as a free molecule or as a part of salivary peptides and proteins. Plaque bacteria metabolize Arg to produce alkali and neutralize glycolytic acids, promoting a less cariogenous oral microbiome. Here, we explored an alternative and complementary mechanism of action of Arg using atomic force microscopy. The nanomechanical properties of Streptococcus mutans biofilm extracellular matrix were characterized under physiological buffer conditions. We report the effect of Arg on the adhesive behaviour and structural properties of extracellular polysaccharides in S. mutans biofilms. High-resolution imaging of biofilm surfaces can reveal additional structural information on bacterial cells embedded within the surrounding extracellular matrix. A dense extracellular matrix was observed in biofilms without Arg compared to those grown in the presence of Arg. S. mutans biofilms grown in the presence of Arg could influence the production and/or composition of extracellular membrane glucans and thereby affect their adhesion properties. Our results suggest that the presence of Arg in the oral cavity could influence the adhesion properties of S. mutans to the tooth surface.
California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Shivani
S
Sharma
Colgate Palmolive Co., 909 River Rd, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Stacey
S
Lavender
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
JungReem
J
Woo
Department of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Lihong
L
Guo
Department of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Wenyuan
W
Shi
Colgate Palmolive Co., 909 River Rd, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
LaTonya
L
Kilpatrick-Liverman
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics Satellite (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan.|Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
James K
JK
Gimzewski
D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005936:Glucans / Q000378:metabolism; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D009055:Mouth; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D005936:Glucans; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D001120:Arginine