Characterization and application of bacterial glycosyl hydrolases for Destruction of the Streptococcus mutans biofilm.

• Grant number: 23/10037-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Igor Polikarpov
• Grantee: Maria Júlia Pozelli Macedo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/08780-1 - Enzymatic degradation of microbial biofilm exopolisacharides: structural biophysics, molecular biotechnology and synthetic biochemistry of CAZymes in search for new enzymatic tools for antimicrobial treatments, AP.TEM

Abstract

Among the main problems associated with oral health, there is the formation of caries and bacterial plaque. Streptococcus mutans is the main causal agent of caries, being a bacterium capable of forming biofilms, which gives the bacteria conditions to establish itself, as well as protects against antimicrobial agents. The Streptococcus mutans biofilm has several components, however its extracellular polysaccharide matrix appears to be the main structural element, and this biofilm is composed of a linear chain of D-glucose units joined by ±-1,3 glycosidic bonds, this polysaccharide commonly called mutan. In addition to ±-1,3 glycosidic bonds, the Strepcoccus mutans biofilm also has branched regions containing ±-1,6 glycosidic bonds. Based on the polysaccharide content of the S. mutans biofilm, the present work aims at prospecting for glycosyl hydrolases capable of breaking the biofilm of the causal agent of oral caries, as well as testing the viability of incorporating biocatalysts into products used in oral hygiene.