Mutation of the NADH oxidase gene (nox) reveals an overlap of the oxygen- and acid-mediated stress responses in Streptococcus mutans.

NADH oxidase (Nox) is a flavin-containing enzyme used by Streptococcus mutans to reduce dissolved oxygen encountered during growth in the oral cavity. In this study, we characterized the role of the NADH oxidase in the oxidative and acid stress responses of S. mutans.

Antimicrobial effects of o-cymen-5-ol and zinc, alone & in combination in simple solutions and toothpaste formulations.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial effects of an o-cymen-5-ol/zinc system.

Methods: o-Cymen-5-ol and zinc gluconate minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined against Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces viscosus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Candida albicans. Synergy was investigated by checkerboard MIC/MBC; inhibition of P.

Antimicrobial actions of α-mangostin against oral streptococci.

The increasing prevalence of dental caries is making it more of a major world health problem. Caries is the direct result of acid production by cariogenic oral bacteria, especially Streptococcus mutans. New and better antimicrobial agents active against cariogenic bacteria are badly needed, especially natural agents derived directly from plants.

Human common salivary protein 1 (CSP-1) promotes binding of Streptococcus mutans to experimental salivary pellicle and glucans formed on hydroxyapatite surface.

The saliva proteome includes host defense factors and specific bacterial-binding proteins that modulate microbial growth and colonization of the tooth surface in the oral cavity. A multidimensional mass spectrometry approach identified the major host-derived salivary proteins that interacted with Streptococcus mutans (strain UA159), the primary microorganism associated with the pathogenesis of dental caries. Two abundant host proteins were found to tightly bind to S.

Protocols to study the physiology of oral biofilms.

The oral cavity harbors several hundred different bacterial species that colonize both hard (teeth) and soft tissues, forming complex populations known as microbial biofilms. It is widely accepted that the phenotypic characteristics of bacteria grown in biofilms are substantially different from those grown in suspensions. Because biofilms are the natural habitat for the great majority of oral bacteria, including those contributing to oral diseases, a better understanding of the physiology of adherent populations is clearly needed to control oral microbes in health and disease.

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.

Malolactic fermentation by Streptococcus mutans.

Streptococcus mutans and certain other oral lactic-acid bacteria were found to have the ability to carry out malolactic fermentation involving decarboxylation of L-malate to yield L-lactic acid and concomitant reduction in acidity. The activity was inducible by L-malate in S. mutans UA159 growing in suspensions or biofilms.

Triclosan inhibition of membrane enzymes and glycolysis of Streptococcus mutans in suspensions and biofilms.

Triclosan was found to be a potent inhibitor of the F(H+)-ATPase of the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans and to increase proton permeabilities of intact cells. Moreover, it acted additively with weak-acid transmembrane proton carriers, such as fluoride or sorbate, to sensitize glycolysis to acid inhibition. Even at neutral pH, triclosan could inhibit glycolysis more directly as an irreversible inhibitor of the glycolytic enzymes pyruvate kinase, lactic dehydro genase, aldolase, and the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS).

Enhanced acid resistance of oral streptococci at lethal pH values associated with acid-tolerant catabolism and with ATP synthase activity.

Caries-causing oral bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans are protected by the actions of F-ATPases against acid damage in dental plaque acidified by glycolytic acid production or ingestion of acids foods and beverages. Catabolites such as glucose and sucrose were found to enhance the protection of S. mutans and also other oral lactic-acid bacteria against acid killing at lethal pH values as low as 2.

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.

Co-operative inhibition by fluoride and zinc of glucosyl transferase production and polysaccharide synthesis by mutans streptococci in suspension cultures and biofilms.

Fluoride and zinc, alone or in combination at concentrations of 0.2 mM, inhibited production-secretion of glucosyltranferases by Streptococcus mutans UA159 growing in suspension cultures. Inhibition did not involve growth inhibition or starvation.

Multi-target antimicrobial actions of zinc against oral anaerobes.

Objective: Zinc is used in oral care products as an antiplaque/antigingivitis agent. Our objective was to assess the antimicrobial actions of zinc against oral anaerobes associated with gingivitis, specifically Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia, with focus on catabolism and oxidative metabolism.

Methods: The oral anaerobes were grown in complex medium in an anaerobic chamber, harvested by centrifugation and used directly for experiments with suspensions.

Applied and ecological aspects of oxidative-stress damage to bacterial spores and to oral microbes.

Bacterial cells have adapted in a variety of ways to resist oxidative stresses and damage in their everyday lives in a predominantly aerobic world. The nearly universal occurrence of resistance mechanisms against oxidative stresses, particularly those due to reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggests that most, if not all, bacteria have to deal with oxidative assaults. A primary source of oxidative stress is aerobic metabolism, which leads to production of ROS such as hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radical, perhydroxyl radical, hydroxyl radical and a variety of other toxic metabolites, including organic peroxides and other organics or inorganics able to transfer electrons to sites of oxidative damage.

Management of glaucoma: focus on pharmacological therapy.

Glaucoma represents a major cause of vision loss throughout the world. Primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma, is a chronic, progressive disease often, though not always, accompanied by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). In this disorder, retinal ganglion cell loss and excavation of the optic nerve head produce characteristic peripheral visual field deficits.

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.

Fluoride and organic weak acids as modulators of microbial physiology.

Fluoride is widely used as an anticaries agent in drinking water and a variety of other vehicles. This use has resulted in major health benefits. However, there are still open questions regarding the mechanisms of anticaries action and the importance of antimicrobial effects in caries reduction.

Repressed respiration of oral streptococci grown in biofilms.

The respiratory activities of oral streptococci grown in biofilms were found to be markedly repressed compared with those of cells from aerobic culture, or for Streptococcus mutans GS-5, even for those grown in static culture. Respiration rates generally reflected levels of NADH oxidase activities in cell extracts. Superoxide dismutase levels were somewhat reduced in biofilm cells.