[Ergosterol Pathway of Promotes the Growth and Cariogenic Virulence of ].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of ( ) on proliferation and virulence of ( ), and to verify the role of the ergosterol pathway in it.

METHODS

After single- and co-cultivation of wild-type 5314 and UA159, the absorbance value of OD and colony-forming units (CFU) were detected to reflect the influence of on the growth of . To reflect the influence of on the virulence of , the production of extracellular polysaccharides was detected by anthrone-vitriol method, and the acid production capacity was detected by a pH meter. After single- and co-cultivation of mutant strains and , the growth of was evaluated by CFU. After inhibiting the ergosterol pathway by 0 mg/L, 0.012 5 mg/L, and 0.025 mg/L fluconazole for 24 h, the CFU of single- and co-cultivated wild-type and were detected.

RESULTS

The OD absorbance value and CFU in theco-cultivation of . wild-type and was higher than that in the single culture ( <0.05), and the production of extracellular polysaccharides in was increased when was co-cultured with ( <0.05), accompanied with a more obvious decrease of pH ( <0.05). Fourteen strains in whole 42 mutant strains lost the growth-promoting effect on , including 6 ergosterol synthesis-related mutant strains. After co-cultivation of the 6 ergosterol synthesis-related mutant strains and , the CFU of remained unchanged or decreased. After inhibiting the ergosterol pathway by 0.012 5 mg/L and 0.025 mg/L fluconazole, the CFU of in the co-cultivation of wild-type and was lower than that without fluconazole treatment ( <0.05), while the CFU of and single-cultivations did not change significantly ( >0.05) and the CFU of in the co-cultivation of wild-type and did not change significantly ( >0.05).

CONCLUSION

can enhance the growth ability and virulence of through the ergosterol-related pathway. This process can be inhibited by fluconazole, which is expected to become a novel strategy to prevent and treat dental caries.