Influence of sucrose substitutes on transcription profile of biofilms and virulence factors of S. mutans

• Grant number: 11/18430-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Social and Preventive Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Maria Regina Lorenzetti Simionato
• Grantee: Janaina Natalia de Souza da Cruz
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiologic agent of dental caries, colonizes the oral cavity almost exclusively as biofilms on the tooth surface. The pathogenic potential of S. mutans is attributed to its excellent mechanisms of biofilm formation, rapid production of large amounts of lactic acid and high tolerance to acidic pH. The presence of sucrose favors the mechanisms of colonization, production of acids and selects S. mutans in acid environment, such as the cariogenic dental plaque. The search for non-cariogenic sucrose substitutes involves researchers from different fields to establish the efficiency of the product in the prevention of dental caries as well as the safety of its use by the population. The most commonly products used to prevent dental caries include sucralose, sorbitol, xylitol and aspartame. Thus, it is extremely important to check the influence of the replacement of sucrose in the transcription profile of biofilm and virulence factors of this pathogen. Thus, this project aims to quantify biofilms of S. mutans UA 159, check the expression of genes spaP, gbpB, gtfB, luxS and brpA and investigate acidogenic capacity and acid tolerance in biofilms formed in the presence of sucrose, followed by their substitutes like sucralose, sorbitol, xylitol or aspartame.(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)