Effects of Arginine on Streptococcus mutans Growth, Virulence Gene Expression, and Stress Tolerance.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus mutans is a common constituent of oral biofilms and a primary etiologic agent of human dental caries. The bacteria associated with dental caries have potent abilities to produce organic acids from dietary carbohydrates and to grow and metabolize in acidic conditions. By contrast, many commensal bacteria produce ammonia through the arginine deiminase system (ADS), which moderates the pH of oral biofilms. Arginine metabolism by the ADS is a significant deterrent to the initiation and progression of dental caries. In this study, we observed how exogenously provided l-arginine affects the growth, the virulence properties, and the tolerance of environmental stresses of S. mutans Supplementation with 1.5% arginine (final concentration) had an inhibitory effect on the

SUBMITTER: Chakraborty B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5514675 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature