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Periodontal pathogens interfere with quorum‐sensing‐dependent virulence properties in Streptococcus mutans
Author(s) -
Wang B. Y.,
Alvarez P.,
Hong J.,
Kuramitsu H. K.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.2010.01319.x
Subject(s) - streptococcus mutans , quorum sensing , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , dental plaque , biology , bacteria , genetics , gene
Wang BY, Alvarez P, Hong J, Kuramitsu HK. Periodontal pathogens interfere with quorum‐sensing‐dependent virulence properties in Streptococcus mutans. J Periodont Res 2011; 46: 105–110. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: The mechanism by which periodontal pathogens dominate at disease sites is not yet understood. One possibility is that these late colonizers antagonize the quorum‐sensing systems of early colonizers and render those early colonizers less resistant to environmental factors. In this study, we utilized Streptococcus mutans , a well‐documented oral Streptococcus with many quorum‐sensing‐dependent properties, as an example of an earlier colonizer antagonized by periodontal pathogens. Material and Methods: In this study, S. mutans NG8 and S. mutans LT11 were used in experiments assessing transformation, and S. mutans BM71 was used in experiments investigating bacteriocin production. The effects of the periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola on these competence‐stimulating peptide‐dependent properties were evaluated in mixed‐broth assays. Results: Both P. gingivalis (either live bacteria or membrane vesicles) and T. denticola antagonized transformation in S. mutans NG8 and LT11. The production of bacteriocin by S. mutans BM71 was also inhibited by P. gingivalis and T. denticola . Boiling of these late colonizers before addition to the broth cultures abolished their ability to inhibit S. mutans transformation and bacteriocin production. P. gingivalis and T. denticola inactivated S. mutans exogenous competence‐stimulating peptide, whereas the boiled bacteria did not. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that periodontal pathogens antagonize S. mutans quorum‐sensing properties. This may render S. mutans less virulent and less resistant to environmental antibacterial factors.