Alkali production associated with malolactic fermentation by oral streptococci and protection against acid, oxidative, or starvation damage.

Alkali production by oral streptococci is considered important for dental plaque ecology and caries moderation. Recently, malolactic fermentation (MLF) was identified as a major system for alkali production by oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans. Our major objectives in the work described in this paper were to further define the physiology and genetics of MLF of oral streptococci and its roles in protection against metabolic stress damage.

Targets for hydrogen-peroxide-induced damage to suspension and biofilm cells of Streptococcus mutans.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is considered a major endogenous source of oxidative stress to oral bacteria and also is widely used in oral care products. Our study objectives were to identify specific targets for H2O2-induced damage to cells of Streptococcus mutans in suspensions and monospecies biofilms and to differentiate bacteriostatic and bactericidal actions of the peroxide. Streptococcus mutans was grown in suspension cultures and fed-batch biofilms for assessing relative sensitivities of viability, glycolysis, and protein synthesis to H2O2 damage.

Antimicrobial actions of benzimidazoles against the oral anaerobes Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia.

Background/objective: Benzimidazoles are widely used as proton-pump inhibitors to control stomach hyperacidity and have been found also to have antimicrobial actions against Helicobacter pylori and oral streptococci. Our primary aim was to determine if they are active also against oral anaerobes associated with gingivitis. Our major focus was on catabolism because it leads to production of inflammatory metabolites such as butyrate and ammonia.

Characterization of UV-peroxide killing of bacterial spores.

Advantage is taken in many sterilization processes, especially for food packaging materials, of the synergy between H2O2 and UV irradiation for spore killing. The nature of the synergy is currently not well defined in terms of targets and mechanisms. We found that under some experimental conditions, the synergistic killing of spores of Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213 appeared to be mainly UV-enhanced peroxide killing, while under other conditions, it appeared to be mainly peroxide-enhanced UV killing.