Discovery of Potent Inhibitors of Streptococcus mutans Biofilm with Antivirulence Activity.

ABSTRACT: Dental caries is a bacterial infectious disease characterized by demineralization of the tooth enamel. Treatment of this disease with conventional antibiotics is largely ineffective as the cariogenic bacteria form tenacious biofilms that are resistant to such treatments. The main etiological agent for dental caries is the bacterium Streptococcus mutans. S. mutans readily forms biofilms on the tooth surface and rapidly produces lactic acid from dietary sucrose. Glucosyl transferases (Gtfs) secreted by S. mutans are mainly responsible for the production of exopolysaccharides that are crucial for the biofilm architecture. Thus, inhibiting S. mutans' Gtfs is an effective approach to develop selective biofilm inhibitors that do not affect the growth of oral commensal

SUBMITTER: Nijampatnam B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7812604 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature