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An Analytical Tool-box for Comprehensive Biochemical, Structural and Transcriptome Evaluation of Oral Biofilms Mediated by Mutans Streptococci
Published on: January 25, 2011
Novel metabolic activity indicator in Streptococcus mutans biofilms.
D M Deng1, M A Hoogenkamp, J M Ten Cate
1Department of Cariology Endodontology Pedodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. d.deng@acta.nl
Journal of Microbiological Methods
|March 17, 2009
Summary
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in Streptococcus mutans biofilms indicates metabolic activity. This method effectively measures the efficacy of oral care products and their impact on lactate production and cell viability.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Oral Health
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance in biofilms necessitates new methods for evaluating preventive agents.
- Streptococcus mutans biofilms are key in dental caries development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence intensity (FI) as a metabolic activity indicator in Streptococcus mutans biofilms.
- To assess the efficacy of oral care products in inhibiting biofilm metabolism and acid production.
Main Methods:
- Streptococcus mutans biofilms constitutively expressing GFP were cultured.
- Glucose was added, and GFP fluorescence intensity (FI) was measured.
- Lactate production and cell viability after chlorhexidine (CHX) treatment were assessed.
Main Results:
- Glucose addition significantly increased biofilm FI.
- Oral care products inhibited FI increase in a dose-dependent manner.
- A strong linear correlation (r=0.96) was found between FI increase and lactate production.
- FI increase reduction occurred at lower CHX concentrations than viability loss.
Conclusions:
- GFP synthesis serves as a reliable indicator of metabolic activity in S. mutans biofilms.
- This fluorescence-based method can effectively evaluate caries preventive agents.
- The method distinguishes between metabolic inhibition and cell death.
