Regulatory mechanisms of exopolysaccharide synthesis and biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans

ABSTRACT

Background

Dental caries is a chronic, multifactorial and biofilm-mediated oral bacterial infection affecting almost every age group and every geographical region. Streptococcus mutans is considered an important pathogen responsible for the initiation and development of dental caries. It produces exopolysaccharides in situ to promote the colonization of cariogenic bacteria and coordinate dental biofilm development.

Objective

The understanding of the regulatory mechanism of S. mutans biofilm formation can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of caries.

Design

At present, an increasing number of studies have identified many regulatory systems in S. mutans that regulate biofilm formation, including second messengers (e.g. c-di-AMP, Ap4A), transcription factors (e.g. EpsR, RcrR, StsR, AhrC, FruR), two-component systems (e.g. CovR, VicR), small RNA (including sRNA0426, srn92532, and srn133489), acetylation modifications (e.g. ActG), CRISPR-associated proteins (e.g. Cas3), PTS systems (e.g. EIIAB), quorum-sensing signaling system (e.g. LuxS), enzymes (including Dex, YidC, CopZ, EzrA, lmrB, SprV, RecA, PdxR, MurI) and small-molecule metabolites.

Results

This review summarizes the recent progress in the molecular regulatory mechanisms of exopolysaccharides synthesis and biofilm formation in S. mutans.

KEYWORDS:

• Dental caries
• streptococcus mutans
• biofilm formation
• exopolysaccharides synthesis
• regulatory mechanism

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China [32170046], the Sichuan Science and Technology Program [2022YFH0048], and State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease [2022KXK0403].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

T. Zheng, X. Zhou, J. Zeng, Y. Li contributed to conception, design, and drafted and critically revised the manuscript; M. Jing, T. Gong, J. Yan, X. Wang, M. Xu contributed to conception, analysis, interpretation and critically revised the manuscript. All authors gave final approval and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China [32170046], the Sichuan Science and Technology Program [2022YFH0048], and State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease [2022KXK0403].