title: Anti-Biofilm Activity of a Self-Aggregating Peptide againstStreptococcus mutans.
abstract: Streptococcus mutansis the primary agent of dental cavities, in large part due to its ability to adhere to teeth and create a molecular scaffold of glucan polysaccharides on the tooth surface. Disrupting the architecture ofS. mutansbiofilms could help undermine the establishment of biofilm communities that cause cavities and tooth decay. Here we present a synthetic peptide P1, derived from a tick antifreeze protein, which significantly reducesS. mutansbiofilm formation. Incubating cells with this peptide decreased biofilm biomass by approximately 75% in both a crystal violet microplate assay and anin vitrotooth model using saliva-coated hydroxyapatite discs. Bacteria treated with peptide P1 formed irregular biofilms with disconnected aggregates of cells and exopolymeric matrix that readily detached from surfaces. Peptide P1 can bind directly toS. mutanscells but does not possess bactericidal activity. Anti-biofilm activity was correlated with peptide aggregation and β-sheet formation in solution, and alternative synthetic peptides of different lengths or charge distribution did not inhibit biofilms. This anti-biofilm peptide interferes withS. mutansbiofilm formation and architecture, and may have future applications in preventing bacterial buildup on teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fairfield University, Fairfield CT, USA.
authors.forename: Juliana M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New HavenCT, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy ChaseMD, USA.
authors.forename: Nabil M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fairfield University, Fairfield CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fairfield University, Fairfield CT, USA.
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Fairfield University, Fairfield CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith-Carpenter
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New HavenCT, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy ChaseMD, USA.
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fikrig
keywords: Gram-positive cocci; Streptococcus mutans; aggregation; anti-biofilm; biofilm; synthetic peptide