Inhibitory Effects of Polysaccharides on the Cariogenic Activities ofStreptococcus mutans

Abstract

Many carbohydrates are involved in the biofilm formation and activities of glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) of Streptococcus mutans, and the effects of various disaccharides and polysaccharides were investigated in this study, including the hot water-extracted glucan fraction of the Lentinula edodes fruiting body (HWG). HWG was found to inhibit the initial adhesion of S. mutans to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA), and also laminarin to inhibit glucan synthesis by Gtfs. However, sucrose-dependent biofilm formation by S. mutans was not inhibited by these materials. Interestingly, dextran was found to have an inhibitory effect on the sucrose-dependent biofilm formation. The data suggest that the presence of such an edible glucan as dextran in daily foods would act to some degree on S. mutans for suppressing the cariogenic activity.

Técnica De Reacción De Polimerasa en Cadena (Qpcr) en Tiempo Real Para La Identificación Y Cuantificación De Streptococcus Mutans en Saliva Y Biopelícula Dentaria De Niños

“…La síntesis de polisacáridos extracelulares es un factor destacado de su virulencia, dado que antes de que la sacarosa ingrese a la célula, un porcentaje es transformado por las exoenzimas, glucosiltransferasas (Gtfs) y fructosiltransferasas (Ftf), que metabolizan la molécula de sacarosa en monosacáridos, transfiriendo cada fracción a una molécula receptora y formando polímeros que se pueden difundir en la biopelícula o permanecer asociados a S. mutans. 18,19 S. mutans posee tres tipos distintos de genes gtf que expresan actividad de glucosiltransferasa. Los genes gtfB y gtfC comparten un mismo operón y codifican las enzimas GtfB y GtfC, y el gen gtfD, que no está en el locus gftBC, codifica para la enzima GtfD.…”

“…The synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides is a prominent factor of its virulence, since even before the sucrose enters the cell, a percentage is transformed by exoenzymes, glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) and fructosiltransferasas (Ftf), which metabolize sucrose in monosaccharide molecules, transferring each fraction to a receiving molecule and forming polymers that can be spread in the biofilm or remain associated with S. mutans. 18,19 S. mutans has three different types of gtf genes expressing glucosyltransferase activity. Genes gtfB and gtfC share a same operon, encoding enzymes GtfB and GtfC as well as gene gtfD, which is not in the gftBC locus, encoding for enzyme GtfD.…”