Middlebury College, Department of Biology, 276 Bicentennial Way, MBH354, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA.
J Dent Res. 2012 Feb;91(2):133-41. doi: 10.1177/0022034511415415. Epub 2011 Jul 8.
Dental caries is a chronic infectious disease of multifactorial etiology that derives from the interplay among cariogenic bacteria on the dentition, the host diet, and other environmental exposures. Streptococcus mutans proliferates as a biofilm on the tooth surface, where it obtains nutrients and metabolizes fermentable dietary carbohydrates. The accumulation of lactic acid as a by-product of fermentation results in acidification of the plaque biofilm and demineralization of tooth enamel, marking the onset of decay. The ability of S. mutans to respond to environmental stresses presented by salivary flow, acid pH, oxidative stress, and changes in carbohydrate source and availability is essential for its survival and predominance in caries lesions. Importantly, S. mutans has evolved a network of regulators to integrate its cellular response to environmental change. Herein we describe the latest insights into global gene regulation in S. mutans, including mechanisms of signal transduction, carbon catabolite repression, and quorum-sensing. An improved understanding of these regulatory networks can provide a basis for novel therapeutic applications aimed at treating and/or preventing caries.
龋齿是一种多因素病因的慢性感染性疾病，源于牙齿上致龋细菌、宿主饮食和其他环境暴露之间的相互作用。变形链球菌在牙齿表面形成生物膜，从中获取营养物质并代谢可发酵的膳食碳水化合物。发酵的副产物乳酸导致菌斑生物膜酸化和牙釉质脱矿，标志着龋病的开始。变形链球菌适应唾液流动、酸 pH 值、氧化应激以及碳水化合物来源和可利用性变化等环境压力的能力对于其在龋病病变中的存活和优势至关重要。重要的是，变形链球菌已经进化出了一套调节网络，以整合其对环境变化的细胞反应。本文描述了变形链球菌中全球基因调控的最新见解，包括信号转导、碳源分解代谢抑制和群体感应的机制。对这些调控网络的深入理解可以为旨在治疗和/或预防龋齿的新型治疗应用提供基础。
