Nattokinase, a Subtilisin-like Alkaline-Serine Protease, Reduces Mutacin Activity by Inactivating the Competence-Stimulating Peptide in <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus mutans is a major cariogenic organism because of its ability to form biofilms on tooth surfaces. Bacteriocins produced by S. mutans (known as mutacins) are indirect pathogenic factors that play a role in the persistence of this microbe in the oral environment. Nattokinase, a subtilisin-like alkaline serine protease, potently inhibits biofilm formation without affecting S. mutans growth. However, effective strategies utilizing nattokinase to control mutacin production by S. mutans are lacking. In this study, we evaluated the effect of nattokinase on mutacin activity in 46 strains of S. mutans with different mutacin genotypes isolated from the dental plaques of pediatric patients with caries. Nattokinase reduced the activity of mutacin against

SUBMITTER: Kimijima M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11054032 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature