Recombinant production and functional evaluation of a hybrid recombinant protein with potential to interact with hydroxyapatite to protect against dental caries and erosion

• Grant number: 21/14161-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf
• Grantee: Carolina Ruis Ferrari
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/26070-1 - Modulation of acquired enamel pellicle to control dental mineral loss: unravelling mechanisms to make therapies possible, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/14291-1 - EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF CANESTAT, A NOVEL HYBRID PROTEIN, ON ORAL MICROBIOME DYNAMICS AND COMPOSITION, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

The presence of acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) is one of the protective factors against erosive tooth wear (ETW) and dental caries. With the advancement of omics techniques, acid-resistant proteins have been identified in the AEP, which has stimulated "acquired pellicle engineering" procedures, focused on enriching this integument with proteins with high capacity to bind to hydroxyapatite and remain bound after an acidic challenge. Among these proteins, CaneCPI-5, a sugarcane-derived phytocystatin, and Stn15pSpS, a peptide containing the 15 amino acids of the N-terminal region of staterin, stand out. Within this context, the present research project has the following aims: 1) To express, recombinantly, this hybrid protein in a bacterial system; 2) To evaluate the potential of this molecule to reduce initial enamel erosion in vitro and 3) in vivo, as well as to alter the protein composition of AEP and 4) To evaluate the potential of the protein potential in provoking changes in the profile and viability of the microcosm biofilm, as well as in the prevention of enamel demineralization. (AU)