Abstract

Streptococcus mutans is the bacteria most frequently associated with dental caries. One of its virulence factors is its ability to form biofilm. gtf, ftf and spaP are genes of S. mutans that are involved in adhesion and colonization of teeth surfaces and therefore biofilm formation. Exopolysaccharides are catalyzed by a group of bacterial enzymes termed glycosyltransferases (GTF) and fructosyltransferases (FTF), encoded by the genes gtf and ftf, respectively, which under certain conditions can be strongly associated with cell surfaces. Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the pathogens associated with S. mutans. We carried out research to determine whether the presence of glucose and L. acidophilus promote adhesion mechanisms that increase the expression of gtf, ftf and spaP of S. mutans.

Key words: Exopolysaccharides, dental caries, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, glucose, gtf, ftf, spaP.