Gene expression in Streptococcus mutans biofilms in response to xylitol, sorbitol, and sucralose

• Grant number: 07/08128-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2008
• End date: May 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Social and Preventive Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Maria Regina Lorenzetti Simionato
• Grantee: Maria Regina Lorenzetti Simionato
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans is considered the primary etiological agent of dental caries. The establishment of biofilm communities provides survival and persistence of this pathogen in oral cavity. S. mutans presents several mechanisms of adhesion and colonizes the dental surfaces via sucrose-dependent and sucrose-independent mechanisms. Noncariogenic sugar substitutes such as xylitol, sorbitol, and sucralose have been frequently prescribed for their importance in dental caries prevention. The condition of safe for teeth is provided by the lower acid production and by the restraint of biofilm formation. Therefore, it is important to investigate the molecular aspects involved in this process, and this project aims to verify the expression of genes involved in biofilm formation by S. mutans in response to xylitol, sorbitol and sucralose by Real Time PCR. The expression will be investigated in paired samples of RNA from planktonic and biofilm cells and will be compared to the expression in the presence of sucrose, glucose and fructose. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DURSO, S. C.; VIEIRA, L. M.; CRUZ, J. N. S.; AZEVEDO, C. S.; RODRIGUES, P. H.; SIMIONATO, M. R. L.. Sucrose Substitutes Affect the Cariogenic Potential of Streptococcus mutans Biofilms. Caries Research, v. 48, n. 3, p. 214-222, 2014. (07/08128-5, 07/08178-2, 11/18430-6, 07/08158-1)