Formation of Streptococcus mutans Polymicrobial Biofilms in the Presence of Lactobacillus plantarum and Candida albicans

Abstract

Objective

Dental caries is an infectious disease that develops through biofilm. Streptococcus mutans is a cariogenic bacterium that can be found in dental plaque. Streptococcus mutans regulates biofilm formation and communicate with other microbes through a process called quorum sensing. Dental caries prevention can be achieved by inhibiting quorum sensing. This study aimed to investigate the ability of Lactobacillus plantarum and Candida albicans to inhibit the formation of S. mutans polymicrobial biofilms.

Materials and Methods

This study aims to investigate the ability of biofilm formation analyzed through the crystal violet (CV) assay and bacterial metabolic activity analyzed through the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The bacteria used are S. mutans (serotype C), L. plantarum (FNCC 0020), and C. albicans.

Results

CV assay results show that in the presence of L. plantarum, biofilm formation in S. mutans decreases (9.5%). Meanwhile, the formation of S. mutans biofilms increased with the presence of C. albicans (28.8%). MTT assay results showed an increase in the metabolic activity of S. mutans in the presence of L. plantarum (20.2%) and C. albicans (19.4%).

Conclusion

Lactobacillus plantarum can inhibit the formation of S. mutans biofilms, while C. albicans can increase S. mutans biofilms.

Keywords

cariogenic biofilms - quorum sensing - Streptococcus mutans - Lactobacillus plantarum - Candida albicans

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