Streptococcus mutans

The inhibition of Streptococcus mutans adherence to hydroxyapatite with combinations of alkyl phosphates and nonionic surfactants was tested. Seven alkyl phosphate derivatives and three nonionic surfactants were examined for their ability to inhibit the adherence of 3H-labeled cells of S. mutans to hydroxyapatite treated with buffer or parotid saliva. No compound by itself effectively hindered binding of bacteria to hydroxyapatite. A combination of certain of the alkyl phosphates, notably a disodium phosphate of 1-octadecanol, and nonionic surfactant at a 1 1 molar ratio gave a strong inhibition of S. mutans adherence. Treatment with this combination resulted in 98% reduction of adherence. Adsorption of the two types of surface-active agents alone and in combinations was studied using 14C-labeled agents. Electrophoretic measure-... 

CAO G (1995) Influence of tea catechins on the synthesis of extracellular glucan and the adherence of Streptococcus mutans bacteria , JTea Sci, 15 (10), 57-60. 

KAWAMURA J and TAKEO T (1989) Anti-bacterial activity of tea catechin to Streptococcus mutans , Nippon Shokuhin Kogyo Gakkaishi, 36, 463-7. 

SAKANAKA s, KIM M, TANiGUCHi M and YAMAMOTO T (1989) Antibacterial substances in Japanese green tea extract against Streptococcus mutans, a cariogenic bacterium , Agric Biol Chem, 53, 2307-11. 

Bees and ants are not the only critters that attack using acid. Bacteria, such as those found in plaque, do, too. Saliva usually keeps the mouth at a pH of about 6.8. Any pH of 6.0 or higher does not cause the teeth any problems. Plaque, a bacteria-containing film that builds up on teeth, can cause that pH to plummet. That is because it contains bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus acidophilus that feed on sugars and make lactic acid. These conditions can lower the pH in the mouth to 5.5 or less. 

Fig. 23 Saliva and serum IgA (primary and secondary) response following orally administered soluble antigen Streptococcus mutans cell wall extract (open circles, soluble antigen solid circles, liposome-encapsulated material) (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, cholesterol). (From Ref. 277).

W. R. Figures and J. R. Edwards, a-D-Glucopyranosyl fluoride as a D-glucopyr-anosyl donor for a glycosyltransferase complex from Streptococcus mutans FA1, Carbohydr. Res., 48 (1976) 245-253. 

Streptococcus mutans mesh cage for biomass weight (i) ... 

The most widely studied therapeutic proteins produced in plants include monoclonal antibodies for passive immunotherapy and antigens for use as oral vaccines [40]. Antibodies against dental caries, rheumatoid arthritis, cholera, E. coli diarrhea, malaria, certain cancers, Norwalk virus, HIV, rhinovirus, influenza, hepatitis B virus and herpes simplex virus have been produced in transgenic plants. However, the anti-Streptococcus mutans secretory antibody for the prevention of dental caries is the only plant-derived antibody currently in Phase II clinical trials [40]. Until recently, most antibodies were expressed in tobacco, potato, alfalfa, soybean, rice and wheat [9], It has been estimated that for every 170 tons of harvested tobacco, 100 tons represents harvested leaves. A single hectare could thus yield 50 kg of secretory IgA [3, 41]. Furthermore, it has been estimated that the cost of antibody production in plants is half that in transgenic animals and 20 times lower than in mammalian cell cul-... 

The oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans, containing the luciferase gene of Pyrophorus plagiophtalatus, was used as rapid assay to estimate the effects of various antimicrobial treatments [93],... 

Fig. 10.—13C-N.m.r. Spectrum at 68 MHz of Branched a-D-Glucan from Streptococcus mutans OMZ-176. [Solvent, DsO, pD 14, at 40° chemical shifts are based on external tetramethylsilane (8C = 0).]...

Koo, H., Nino de Guzman, P., Schobel, B. D., Vacca Smith, A. V., and Bowen, W. IT. (2006). Influence of cranberry juice on glucan-mediated processes involved in Streptococcus mutans biofilm development. Caries Res. 40, 20-27. 

Acetaldehyde and acetoin can be excreted in substantial amounts by lactic acid bacteria, in addition to diacetyl and methylglyoxal. For example, acetoin excretion has been studied in Streptococcus mutans (Hillman et al., 1987). Acetaldehyde (Nordbo, 1971) and methylglyoxal (Armstrong, 1964) stain teeth in vitro. 

Hillman JD, Andrews SW and Dzuback AL (1987) Acetoin production by wild-type strains and a lactate dehydrogenase-deficient mutant of Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun 55, 1399-1402. 

B) alternating comb dextran (65% a-1- 6 linkages and 35% a-1- 3 branch linkages) S3mthesized by Streptococcus mutans dextran-sucrase ... 

A widespread form of dental disease, caries, is caused by acids that dissolve the mineral part of the teeth by neutralizing the negatively charged counter-ions in apatite (see A). Acids occur in food, or are produced by microorganisms that live on the surfaces of the teeth (e. g.. Streptococcus mutans). 

Daglia, M. Tarsi, R. Papetti, A. Grisoli, R Dacarro, C. Pruzzo, C. Gazzani, G. Antiadhesive Effect of Green and Roasted Coffee on Streptococcus mutans Adhesive Properties on Saliva-Coated Hydroxyapatite Beads, j. Agric. Food Chem. 2002, 50, 1225-1229. 

Duarte, S., Gregoire, S., Singh, A. P., Vorsa, N., Schaich, K., Bowen, W. H. and Koo, H. 2006. Inhibitory effects of cranberry polyphenols on formation and acidogenicity of Streptococcus mutans biofilms. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 257(1) 50-56. 

Although chlorhexidine affects virtually all bacteria, gram-positive bacteria are more susceptible than are gram-negative organisms. Furthermore, Streptococcus mutans and Antinomies viscosus seem to be particularly sensitive. S. mutans has been associated with the formation of carious lesions in fissures and on interproximal tooth surfaces and has been identified in large numbers in plaque and saliva samples of subjects with high caries activity. 

Chlorhexidine (C) is generally effective against all bacteria, but Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus, two bacteria particularly associated with dental lesions, are especially susceptible to its action. Stannous fluoride (D) is widely used in caries prevention, and many studies have proven its effectiveness. 

Dental caries is one of the most common diseases in humans, and is mediated by bacteria, mainly Streptococcus mutans. It has been estimated to affect between 60 and 90% of school children in the developed world and the majority of adults [11], and is consequently a major public health concern. In addition to the developed world, it is the most widespread oral disease in many Asian and Latin American countries, though it currently appears to be less of a problem in Africa. However, changes in living conditions and increases in sugar consumption within a changing diet suggest that, in Africa too, the incidence of caries will increase, and that it will become a major public health issue here, too. 

I.R. Hamilton, D.C. Ellwood, Effects of fluoride on carbohydrate metabolism by washed cells of Streptococcus mutans grown at various pH values in a chemostat. Infect. Immunol. 48 (1985) 664-670. 

H. Luoma, Phosphoms translocation between enamel and Streptococcus mutans in the presence of sucrose and fluoride with observations on the acid phosphatase of S. mutans. Caries Res. 14 (1980) 248-257. 

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