Relationship between Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans in early childhood caries, evaluated by quantitative PCR.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Bachtiar EW
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6221075 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Early childhood caries (ECC) recurrence occurs in approximately 40% of treated cases within one year. The association of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans with the onset of ECC is well known. Also, S. mutans strains harboring collagen-binding proteins (Cbps) avidly bind to collagen-rich dentin and are linked to increased caries risk. Here, we investigated the presence of Cbp+ S. mutans and C. albicans in saliva and dental plaque of children with varying caries statuses, and their salivary microbiome. In this cross-sectional study, 143 children who were caries-free (n = 73), treated for ECC with no signs of recurrence after 6 months (n = 45), or treated for ECC and experiencing recurrence within 6 months following treatment (n = 25) were enrolled. Co-infection with C. albicans and S. mutans, especially Cbp+ S. mutans, was strongly associated with caries recurrence. Subjects of the recurrence group infected with Cbp+ S. mutans showed a greater burden of Candida spp. and of Mutans streptococci in dentin than those infected with Cbp- strains. Salivary microbiome analysis revealed that Streptococcus parasanguinis was overrepresented in the caries recurrence group. Our findings indicate that Cbp+ S. mutans and C. albicans are intimately associated with caries recurrence, contributing to the establishment of recalcitrant biofilms.
| S-EPMC8144385 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Probiotics interfere with pathogenic microorganisms or reinstate the natural microbiome. Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans are well-known emerging pathogenic bacteria/fungi for dental caries. In this study, three probiotic Lactobacilli strains (Lactobacillus plantarum 8014, L. plantarum 14917, and Lactobacillus salivarius 11741) were tested on S. mutans and C. albicans clinical isolates using a multispecies biofilm model simulating clinical cariogenic conditions. The ten pairs of clinical isolates of S. mutans and C. albicans were obtained from children with severe early childhood caries. Our study findings show a remarkable inhibitory effect of L. plantarum 14917 on S. mutans and C. albicans clinical isolates, resulting in significantly reduced growth of S. mutans and C. albicans, a compromised biofilm structure with a significantly smaller microbial and extracellular matrix and a less virulent microcolony structure. FurTre, plantaricin, an antimicrobial peptide produced by L. plantarum, inhibited the growth of S. mutans and C. albicans. The mechanistic assessment indicated that L. plantarum 14917 had a positive inhibitory impact on the expression of S. mutans and C. albicans virulence genes and virulent structure, such as C. albicans hypha formation. Future utilization of L. plantarum 14917 and/or its antimicrobial peptide plantaricin could lead to a new paradigm shift in dental caries prevention.
| S-EPMC9917570 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-cariogenic effects of Lactobacillus salivarius by reducing pathogenic species and biofilm mass in a double-species biofilm model. Coexistence of S. mutans with C. albicans can cause dental caries progression or recurrence of the disease in the future. Fifty-nine children with diagnosed early childhood caries (ECC) were recruited onto the study. The condition of the children's dentition was defined according to the World Health Organization guidelines. The participants were divided into children with initial enamel demineralization and children showing dentin damage. The study was performed on the S. mutans and C. albicans clinical strains, isolated from dental plaque of patients with ECC. The effect of a probiotic containing Lactobacillus salivarius on the ability of S. mutans and C. albicans to produce a double-species biofilm was investigated in an in vitro model. The biomass of the formed/non-degraded biofilm was analyzed on the basis of its crystal violet staining. The number of colonies of S. mutans and C. albicans (CFU/mL, colony forming units/mL) forming the biofilm was determined. Microorganism morphology in the biofilm was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In vitro analysis demonstrated that the presence of S. mutans increased the number of C. albicans colonies (CFU/mL); the double-species biofilm mass and hyphal forms produced in it by the yeast. L. salivarius inhibited the cariogenic biofilm formation of C. albicans and S. mutans. Under the influence of the probiotic; the biofilm mass and the number of S. mutans; C. albicans and S. mutans with C. albicans colonies in the biofilm was decreased. Moreover; it can be noted that after the addition of the probiotic; fungi did not form hyphae or germ tubes of pathogenic potential. These results suggest that L. salivarius can secrete intermediates capable of inhibiting the formation of cariogenic S. mutans and C. albicans biofilm; and may inhibit fungal morphological transformation and thereby reduce the pathogenicity of C. albicans; weakening its pathogenic potential. Further research is required to prove or disprove the long-term effects of the preparation and to achieve preventive methods.
| S-EPMC5707714 | biostudies-other
Project description:Streptococcus mutans is often cited as the main bacterial pathogen in dental caries, particularly in early-childhood caries (ECC). S. mutans may not act alone; Candida albicans cells are frequently detected along with heavy infection by S. mutans in plaque biofilms from ECC-affected children. It remains to be elucidated whether this association is involved in the enhancement of biofilm virulence. We showed that the ability of these organisms together to form biofilms is enhanced in vitro and in vivo. The presence of C. albicans augments the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), such that cospecies biofilms accrue more biomass and harbor more viable S. mutans cells than single-species biofilms. The resulting 3-dimensional biofilm architecture displays sizeable S. mutans microcolonies surrounded by fungal cells, which are enmeshed in a dense EPS-rich matrix. Using a rodent model, we explored the implications of this cross-kingdom interaction for the pathogenesis of dental caries. Coinfected animals displayed higher levels of infection and microbial carriage within plaque biofilms than animals infected with either species alone. Furthermore, coinfection synergistically enhanced biofilm virulence, leading to aggressive onset of the disease with rampant carious lesions. Our in vitro data also revealed that glucosyltransferase-derived EPS is a key mediator of cospecies biofilm development and that coexistence with C. albicans induces the expression of virulence genes in S. mutans (e.g., gtfB, fabM). We also found that Candida-derived ?1,3-glucans contribute to the EPS matrix structure, while fungal mannan and ?-glucan provide sites for GtfB binding and activity. Altogether, we demonstrate a novel mutualistic bacterium-fungus relationship that occurs at a clinically relevant site to amplify the severity of a ubiquitous infectious disease.
| S-EPMC3993459 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Polymicrobial interactions in dental plaque play a significant role in dysbiosis and homeostasis in the oral cavity. In early childhood caries, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans are often co-isolated from carious lesions and associated with increased disease severity. Studies have demonstrated that metabolic and glucan-dependent synergism between C. albicans and S. mutans contribute to enhanced pathogenesis. However, it is unclear how oral commensals influence pathogen synergy. Streptococcus parasanguinis, a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) producing oral commensal, has antimicrobial activity against S. mutans. In this study, we utilized a three species biofilm model to understand the impact of S. parasanguinis on S. mutans and C. albicans synergy. We report that S. parasanguinis disrupts S. mutans and C. albicans biofilm synergy in a contact and H2O2-independent manner. Further, metabolomics analysis revealed a S. parasanguinis-driven alteration in sugar metabolism that restricts biofilm development by S. mutans. Moreover, S. parasanguinis inhibits S. mutans glucosyltransferase (GtfB) activity, which is important for glucan matrix development and GtfB-mediated binding to C. albicans mannan. Taken together, our study describes a new antimicrobial role for S. parasanguinis and highlights how this abundant oral commensal may be utilized to attenuate pathogen synergism.
| S-EPMC7661713 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans are frequently co-isolated from dental plaque of children with early childhood caries (ECC) and are only rarely found in children without ECC, suggesting that these species interact in a manner that contributes to the pathogenesis of ECC. Previous studies have demonstrated that glucans produced by S. mutans are crucial for promoting the formation of biofilm and cariogenicity with C. albicans; however, it is unclear how non-glucan S. mutans biofilm factors contribute to increased biofilm formation in the presence of C. albicans. In this study we examined the role of S. mutans antigen I/II in two-species biofilms with C. albicans, and determined that antigen I/II is important for the incorporation of C. albicans into the two-species biofilm and is also required for increased acid production. The interaction is independent of the proteins Als1 and Als3, which are known streptococcal receptors of C. albicans. Moreover, antigen I/II is required for the colonization of both S. mutans and C. albicans during co-infection of Drosophila melanogaster in vivo. Taken together, these results demonstrate that antigen I/II mediates the increase of C. albicans numbers and acid production in the two-species biofilm, representing new activities associated with this known S. mutans adhesin.
| S-EPMC6041162 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Candida albicans cells are often detected with Streptococcus mutans in plaque biofilms from children affected with early childhood caries. The coadhesion between these 2 organisms appears to be largely mediated by the S. mutans-derived exoenzyme glucosyltransferase B (GtfB); GtfB readily binds to C. albicans cells in an active form, producing glucans locally that provide enhanced binding sites for S. mutans. However, knowledge is limited about the mechanisms by which the bacterial exoenzyme binds to and functions on the fungal surface to promote this unique cross-kingdom interaction. In this study, we use atomic force microscopy to understand the strength and binding dynamics modulating GtfB-C. albicans adhesive interactions in situ. Single-molecule force spectroscopy with GtfB-functionalized atomic force microscopy tips demonstrated that the enzyme binds with remarkable strength to the C. albicans cell surface (~2 nN) and showed a low dissociation rate, suggesting a highly stable bond. Strikingly, the binding strength of GtfB to the C. albicans surface was ~2.5-fold higher and the binding stability, ~20 times higher, as compared with the enzyme adhesion to S. mutans. Furthermore, adhesion force maps showed an intriguing pattern of GtfB binding. GtfB adhered heterogeneously on the surface of C. albicans, showing a higher frequency of adhesion failure but large sections of remarkably strong binding forces, suggesting the presence of GtfB binding domains unevenly distributed on the fungal surface. In contrast, GtfB bound uniformly across the S. mutans cell surface with less adhesion failure and a narrower range of binding forces (vs. the C. albicans surface). The data provide the first insights into the mechanisms underlying the adhesive and mechanical properties governing GtfB interactions with C. albicans. The strong and highly stable GtfB binding to C. albicans could explain, at least in part, why this bacterially derived exoenzyme effectively modulates this virulent cross-kingdom interaction.
| S-EPMC4547317 | biostudies-other
Project description:Background: Cajuputs candy (CC), an Indonesian functional food, utilizes the bioactivity of Melaleuca cajuputi essential oil (MCEO) to maintain oral cavity health. Synergistic interaction between Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of early childhood caries. Our recent study revealed several alternative MCEOs as the main flavors in CC. The capacity of CC to interfere with the fungus-bacterium relationship remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate CC efficacy to impair biofilm formation by these dual cariogenic microbes. Methods: The inhibition capacity of CC against mixed-biofilm comprising C. albicans and S. mutans was assessed by quantitative (crystal violet assay, tetrazolium salt [MTT] assay, colony forming unit/mL counting, biofilm-related gene expression) and qualitative analysis (light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy). Result: Both biofilm-biomass and viable cells were significantly reduced in the presence of CC. Scanning electron microscopy imaging confirmed this inhibition capacity, demonstrating morphology alteration of C. albicans, along with reduced microcolonies of S. mutans in the biofilm mass. This finding was related to the transcription level of selected biofilm-associated genes, expressed either by C. albicans or S. mutans. Based on qPCR results, CC could interfere with the transition of C. albicans yeast form to the hyphal form, while it suppressed insoluble glucan production by S. mutans. G2 derived from Mojokerto MCEO showed the greatest inhibition activity on the relationship between these cross-kingdom oral microorganisms (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In general, all CC formulas showed biofilm inhibition capacity. Candy derived from Mojokerto MCEO showed the greatest capacity to maintain the yeast form of C. albicans and to inhibit extracellular polysaccharide production by S. mutans. Therefore, the development of dual-species biofilms can be impaired effectively by the CC tested.
| S-EPMC7269370 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans are found together in the oral biofilms on dental surfaces, but little is known about the ecological interactions between these species. Here, we studied the effects of S. mutans UA159 on the growth and pathogencity of C. albicans. Initially, the effects of S. mutans on the biofilm formation and morphogenesis of C. albicans were tested in vitro. Next, we investigate the influence of S. mutans on pathogenicity of C. albicans using in vivo host models, in which the experimental candidiasis was induced in G. mellonella larvae and analyzed by survival curves, C. albicans count in hemolymph, and quantification of hyphae in the host tissues. In all the tests, we evaluated the direct effects of S. mutans cells, as well as the indirect effects of the subproducts secreted by this microorganism using a bacterial culture filtrate. The in vitro analysis showed that S. mutans cells favored biofilm formation by C. albicans. However, a reduction in biofilm viable cells and inhibition of hyphal growth was observed when C. albicans was in contact with the S. mutans culture filtrate. In the in vivo study, injection of S. mutans cells or S. mutans culture filtrate into G. mellonella larvae infected with C. albicans increased the survival of these animals. Furthermore, a reduction in hyphal formation was observed in larval tissues when C. albicans was associated with S. mutans culture filtrate. These findings suggest that S. mutans can secrete subproducts capable to inhibit the biofilm formation, morphogenesis and pathogenicity of C. albicans, attenuating the experimental candidiasis in G. mellonella model.
| S-EPMC4774980 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Candida albicans is frequently detected with heavy infection of Streptococcus mutans in plaque-biofilms from children affected with early-childhood caries, a prevalent and costly oral disease. The presence of C. albicans enhances S. mutans growth within biofilms, yet the chemical interactions associated with bacterial accumulation remain unclear. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate how microbial products from this cross-kingdom association modulate S. mutans build-up in biofilms. Our data revealed that bacterial-fungal derived conditioned medium (BF-CM) significantly increased the growth of S. mutans and altered biofilm 3D-architecture in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in enlarged and densely packed bacterial cell-clusters (microcolonies). Intriguingly, BF-CM induced S. mutans gtfBC expression (responsible for Gtf exoenzymes production), enhancing Gtf activity essential for microcolony development. Using a recently developed nanoculture system, the data demonstrated simultaneous microcolony growth and gtfB activation in situ by BF-CM. Further metabolites/chromatographic analyses of BF-CM revealed elevated amounts of formate and the presence of Candida-derived farnesol, which is commonly known to exhibit antibacterial activity. Unexpectedly, at the levels detected (25-50 μM), farnesol enhanced S. mutans-biofilm cell growth, microcolony development, and Gtf activity akin to BF-CM bioactivity. Altogether, the data provide new insights on how extracellular microbial products from cross-kingdom interactions stimulate the accumulation of a bacterial pathogen within biofilms.
| S-EPMC5278416 | biostudies-literature