Small Molecule Compounds, A Novel Strategy against Streptococcus mutans

Sirui Yang,Jin Zhang,Xin Xu,Ran Yang

doi:10.3390/pathogens10121540

Abstract

Dental caries, as a common oral infectious disease, is a worldwide public health issue. Oral biofilms are the main cause of dental caries. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is well recognized as the major causative factor of dental caries within oral biofilms. In addition to mechanical removal such as tooth brushing and flossing, the topical application of antimicrobial agents is necessarily adjuvant to the control of caries particularly for high-risk populations. The mainstay antimicrobial agents for caries such as chlorhexidine have limitations including taste confusions, mucosal soreness, tooth discoloration, and disruption of an oral microbial equilibrium. Antimicrobial small molecules are promising in the control of S. mutans due to good antimicrobial activity, good selectivity, and low toxicity. In this paper, we discussed the application of antimicrobial small molecules to the control of S. mutans, with a particular focus on the identification and development of active compounds and their modes of action against the growth and virulence of S. mutans.

Highlights

Dental caries is a chronic infectious disease across all ages of human beings [1], which seriously endangers human oral and general health and affects the quality of life [2]
Under cariogenic conditions, such as frequent sugar intake, cariogenic bacteria compete with oral commensals and cause microbial dysbiosis
S. mutans synthesizes exopolysaccharides (EPSs), which mediate the adhesion between cells and the tooth surface and contribute to the formation of oral biofilms and the development of dental caries [7,8]

Summary

Introduction

Dental caries is a chronic infectious disease across all ages of human beings [1], which seriously endangers human oral and general health and affects the quality of life [2]. S. mutans synthesizes exopolysaccharides (EPSs), which mediate the adhesion between cells and the tooth surface and contribute to the formation of oral biofilms and the development of dental caries [7,8]. Mechanical plaque removal and the application of chemotherapeutics are commonly used for the control of dental caries. Mechanical plaque control including tooth brushing and flossing is commonly used at all age groups for the prevention of dental caries. Small molecules have become promising alternatives for the control of oral biofilms due to good cell permeability, good stability, low cost, and low toxicity [15,16]. We aim to discuss antimicrobial small molecules against S. mutans based on the way they are developed, with a particular focus on their modes of action and mechanisms against the growth and virulence of S. mutans

Drug Repurposing

Target-Based Designing

Gtfs Inhibitor

Conclusions