ABSTRACT
Streptococcus mutans is the primary pathogen responsible for initiating dental caries and decay
The presence of sucrose, stimulates S. mutans to produce insoluble glucans to form oral biofilm also known as dental plaque to initiate caries lesion
The GtfB and LuxS genes of S. mutans are responsible for formation and maturation of biofilm. Lactobacillus species as probiotic can reduces the count of S. mutans. In this study effect of different Lactobacillus species against the formation of S. mutans biofilm was observed
Growing biofilm in the presence of sucrose was detected using 96 well microtiter plate crystal violet assay and biofilm formation by S. mutans in the presence of Lactobacillus was detected. Gene expression of biofilm forming genes [GtfB and LuxS] was quantified through Real-time PCR
All strains of Lactobacillus potently reduced the formation of S. mutans biofilm whereas Lactobacillus acidophilus reduced the genetic expression by 60-80%
Therefore, probiotic Lactobacillus species can be used as an alternative instead of antibiotics to decrease the chance of dental caries by reducing the count of S. mutans and their gene expression to maintain good oral health.
ABSTRACT
Antibiotics are recommended for use in the treatment of infectious diseases, but the side effects have not been thoroughly investigated, especially on the intestinal tract. Fluoroquinolones, macrolides and beta-lactams were tested the side effects on the intestinal microbflora of mice in this study. The similarity and sequence analysis of the dominant bands for different drug administration periods were carried out by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis [DGGE] profiles. The total amount of 16S rRNA gene increased after drug administration, the bacterial composition and structure could be divided into different clusters for different drug administration periods distinctly. This study revealed a significant change of bacterial composition of microflora from intestinal tract as antibiotics were applied to tested mice