Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus mutans and Related Bacteria英文文献资料.docVIP

Advances in Microbiology, 2012, 2, 208-215 /10.4236/aim.2012.23025 Published Online September 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/aim) Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus mutans and Related Bacteria Junko Nishimura , Tadao Saito , Hiroshi Yoneyama , Lan Lan Bai , 1 1 2 2 3 2* Kazuhiko Okumura Laboratory of Animal Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan , Emiko Isogai 1 2 Laboratory of Animal Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan Department of Oral Surgery, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan 3 Email: emiko@bios.tohoku.ac.jp * Received April 22, 2012; revised May 29, 2012; accepted June 8, 2012 ABSTRACT Caries is a disease of human dentition characterized by the loss of mineralized surfaces of the tooth; it is an infectious disease of the oral cavity in which biofilms play a causative role. Control of biofilms has traditionally relied on non-specific removal of plaque by mechanical means such as brushing, although it is difficult to remove biofilms by this method. Caries is also a widespread infection in children. Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus are important causative agents of caries. They produce a homologous exocellular polysaccharide called glucan, which strongly ad- heres to the enamel surface. This is a review of oral microbial biofilm formation by S. mutans and other related bacte- ria. Keywords: Caries; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus sobrinus; Biofilm; Exocellular Polysaccharide; Glucan; Glucosyltransferase 1. Introduction enamel, dentine and cementum by bacteria. Acid forma- tion by cariogenic bacteria such as S. mutans drives the dissolution of calcium and phosphate in the hydroxyapa- tite crystal structure