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Infection and Immunity, September 2008, p. 4259-4268, Vol. 76, No. 9
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00422-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characteristics of Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus mutans in the Presence of Saliva

Sug-Joon Ahn,^1,2 Sang-Joon Ahn,¹ Zezhang T. Wen,^1, L. Jeannine Brady,¹ and Robert A. Burne^1*

Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610,¹ Dental Research Institute and Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, 28-22 Yungeon-Dong, Jongro-Gu, Seoul 110-768, Republic of Korea²

Received 4 April 2008/ Returned for modification 8 June 2008/ Accepted 27 June 2008

Interactions between salivary agglutinin and the adhesin P1 of Streptococcus mutans contribute to bacterial aggregation and mediate sucrose-independent adherence to tooth surfaces. We have examined biofilm formation by S. mutans UA159, and derivative strains carrying mutations affecting the localization or expression of P1, in the presence of fluid-phase or adsorbed saliva or salivary agglutinin preparations. Whole saliva- and salivary agglutinin-induced aggregation of S. mutans was adversely affected by the loss of P1 and sortase (SrtA) but not by the loss of trigger factor (RopA). Fluid-phase salivary agglutinin and, to a lesser extent, immobilized agglutinin inhibited biofilm development by S. mutans in the absence of sucrose, and whole saliva was more effective at decreasing biofilm formation than salivary agglutinin. Inhibition of biofilm development by salivary agglutinin was differently influenced by particular mutations, with the P1-deficient strain displaying a greater inhibition of biofilm development than the SrtA- or RopA-deficient strains. As expected, biofilm-forming capacities of all strains in the presence of salivary preparations were markedly enhanced in the presence of sucrose, although biofilm formation by the mutants was less efficient than that by the parental strain. Aeration strongly inhibited biofilm development, and the presence of salivary components did not restore biofilm formation in aerated conditions. The results disclose a potent ability of salivary constituents to moderate biofilm formation by S. mutans through P1-dependent and P1-independent pathways.

Published ahead of print on 14 July 2008.

Editor: A. Camilli

Present address: Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biology, LSU School of Dentistry, 1100 Florida Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119.