Immobilization of fructosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans on hydroxyapatite surfaces induces the formation of multimeric complexes.

AIMS: To investigate the formation of fructosyltransferase (FTF) complexes on hydroxyapatite (HA) surfaces. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cell-free extracellular FTF from Streptococcus mutans, purified from hyperproducing strain V-1995, was adsorbed onto HA and then eluted from the surface by means of a concentration gradient of potassium phosphate buffer. The FTF monomers loaded onto HA formed, upon adsorption, various complexes ranging from 200 to 700 kDa as demonstrated using native PAGE. All these complexes exhibited enzymatic activity. CONCLUSIONS: Adsorption of FTF onto HA induced the formation of stable and enzymatically-active complexes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The formation of these complexes may explain the change of FTF catalytic properties after adsorption onto HA. This study is another step in determining the properties of a-cellular constituents of the oral biofilm.

The role of fructans on dental biofilm formation by Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus gordonii and Actinomyces viscosus.

Dental plaque biofilm plays a pivotal role in the progression of dental diseases. Polysaccharides are of great importance in the ecology of the dental biofilm. We studied the effect of fructans, glucans and a mixture of both fructans and glucans, synthesized in situ by immobilized fructosyltransferase or glucosyltransferase, on the adhesion of Streptococcus sobrinus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus gordonii and Actinomyces viscosus to hydroxyapatite beads coated with human saliva (sHA). The adhesion of A. viscosus to sHA was found to be fructan-dependent. Adhesion of both S. sobrinus and S. mutans was found to be mediated mainly by glucans, while the adhesion of S. gordonii was found to be both glucan- and fructan-dependent. Treatment with fructanase prior to A. viscosus adhesion resulted in a significant reduction in adhesion to sHA, while adhesion of S. sobrinus, S. mutans and S. gordonii was slightly influenced by fructanase treatment. Treatment with fructanase after adhesion of S. gordonii to sHA resulted in a significant reduction in their adhesion to sHA. Our results show that fructans may play a role in the adhesion and colonization of several cariogenic bacteria to sHA, thus contributing to the formation of dental plaque biofilm.

In vitro bacterial adherence onto pellicle-coated aesthetic restorative materials.

Adhesion of oral bacteria to teeth and restorative materials plays an important role in the pathogenesis of oral diseases. This study investigated the initial adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to enamel and restorative materials. Three types of composites and two types of glass ionomer cements were used. The specimens were coated with freshly collected human parotid saliva. The salivary coated samples were incubated with cell-free glucosyltransferase, and further incubated with sucrose solution. Finally, the specimens were incubated with 3H-thymidine labelled bacteria. Adhesion of the bacteria to the specimens was measured by scintillation counter. SEM observations were performed on each sample. The results showed no significant differences among the materials and the control. These findings can be explained by the pellicle which coated all the specimens. This biofilm, to which the bacteria were adhered and proved to probably masked existing surface properties of the specimens resulting in similar bacterial adhesion.