Review: Quorum sensing mechanism between Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in the pathogenesis of dental caries

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases that affects all age groups worldwide. Caries is a slow progressing chronic disease characterized by localized tooth decay. Caries arises from interactions on the tooth surface between microorganisms, microorganism products, host (saliva) and diet (sugar), which leads to the formation of pathogenic biofilms, or dental plaque, and causes tooth decay. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) bacteria are the main microorganisms that play a role in causing dental caries. The results of several clinical studies indicate that, apart from S. mutans, the fungus Candida albicans (C. albicans) is often detected in high numbers in caries. The existence of these two species in one biofilm allows the two species to communicate between cells which is called quorum sensing. Objective: To determine the Quorum sensing mechanism between S. mutans and C. albicans in the development of the pathogenesis of caries. Methods: 3 databases namely PUBMED, Web of Science and Scopus, were used to search for articles according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: quorum sensing between S. mutans and C. albicans in the same biofilm can change gene expression in both species of microorganisms, as well as increase the growth of both species of microorganisms. Conclusion: Symbiosis between S. mutans and C. albicans in the oral cavity is very detrimental to humans because it can exacerbate the buildup of acid which results in caries.