Fluoride export is required for competitive fitness of pathogenic microorganisms in dental biofilm models.

ABSTRACT: Microorganisms resist fluoride toxicity using fluoride export proteins from one of several different molecular families. Cariogenic species Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans extrude intracellular fluoride using a CLC^F F^-/H⁺ antiporter and FEX fluoride channel, respectively, whereas commensal eubacteria, such as Streptococcus gordonii, export fluoride using a Fluc fluoride channel. In this work, we examine how genetic knockout of fluoride export impacts pathogen fitness in single-species and three-species dental biofilm models. For biofilms generated using S. mutans with genetic knockout of the CLC^F transporter, exposure to low fluoride concentrations decreased S. mutans counts, synergistically reduced th

SUBMITTER: Banerjee A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10827179 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature