Open AccessStreptococcus mutansCompetence-Stimulating Peptide InhibitsCandida albicansHypha Formation
Author(s) -
Lucja M. Jarosz,
Dongsheng Deng,
Henny C. van der Mei,
Wim Crielaard,
Bastiaan P. Krom
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
eukaryotic cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1535-9778
pISSN - 1535-9786
DOI - 10.1128/ec.00070-09
Subject(s) - streptococcus mutans , candida albicans , microbiology and biotechnology , corpus albicans , biofilm , biology , hypha , virulence , quorum sensing , yeast , germ tube , bacteria , biochemistry , gene , genetics
The oral cavity is colonized by microorganisms growing in biofilms in which interspecies interactions take place.Streptococcus mutans grows in biofilms on enamel surfaces and is considered one of the main etiological agents of human dental caries.Candida albicans is also commonly found in the human oral cavity, where it interacts withS. mutans. C. albicans is a polymorphic fungus, and the yeast-to-hypha transition is involved in virulence and biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to investigate interkingdom communication betweenC. albicans andS. mutans based on the production of secreted molecules.S. mutans UA159 inhibitedC. albicans germ tube (GT) formation in cocultures even when physically separated fromC. albicans . OnlyS. mutans spent medium collected in the early exponential phase (4-h-old cultures) inhibited the GT formation ofC. albicans . During this phase,S. mutans UA159 produces a quorum-sensing molecule, competence-stimulating peptide (CSP). The role of CSP in inhibiting GT formation was confirmed by using synthetic CSP and acomC deletion strain ofS. mutans UA159, which lacks the ability to produce CSP. OtherS. mutans strains and otherStreptococcus spp. also inhibited GT formation but to different extents, possibly reflecting differences in CSP amino acid sequences amongStreptococcus spp. or differences in CSP accumulation in the media. In conclusion, CSP, anS. mutans quorum-sensing molecule secreted during the early stages of growth, inhibits theC. albicans morphological switch.