In silico analysis of the competition between Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans in the dental biofilm

Abstract

During dental caries, the dental biofilm modifies the composition of the hundreds of involved bacterial species. Changing environmental conditions predisposes competition. A pertinent model to exemplify the complex interplay of the microorganisms in the human dental biofilm is the competition between Streptococcus sanguinis (S. sanguinis) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). It has been reported that children and adults harbor greater numbers of S. sanguinis in the oral cavity, associated with carious-free teeth. Conversely, S. mutans is predominant in individuals with a high number of carious lesions. Competition between both microorganisms stems from the production of H₂O₂ by S. sanguinis and mutacins, a type of bacteriocins, by S. mutans. There is limited evidence on how S. sanguinis survives its own H₂O₂ levels, or if it has other mechanisms that might aid in the competition against S. mutans, nonetheless. We performed a genomic and metabolic pathway comparison, coupled with a comprehensive literature review to better understand the competition between the two species. Results indicated that S. sanguinis can outcompete S. mutans by the production of an enzyme capable to metabolize H₂O₂. S. mutans, however, lacks the enzyme and is susceptible to the peroxide from S. sanguinis. In addition, S. sanguinis can generate energy through gluconeogenesis and seems to have evolved different communication mechanisms, indicating that novel proteins may be responsible for intra-species communication.

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