Anti-cariogenic activity of mutanocyclin, a secondary metabolite of , in mono- and multispecies biofilms.

UNLABELLED

(), a principal cariogenic pathogen responsible for dental caries, alters the oral biofilm ecology through the production of various metabolites. One such metabolite, mutanocyclin (MUC), a recently identified secondary metabolite, may have implications for both caries development and oral microbiome interactions. This study aimed to investigate the properties of MUC and its effects on , as well as other oral commensal streptococci in mono- and multispecies biofilms. Our findings revealed that MUC significantly inhibited planktonic growth, biofilm formation, lactic acid production, water-insoluble glucan synthesis, and extracellular polysaccharide production. In contrast, at lower concentrations, MUC stimulated the growth of () and (). Additionally, MUC reduced the abundance of and enhanced the antagonistic activity of and against in multispecies biofilms by upregulating the expression of the HO-related gene and stimulating HO production. These results suggest that MUC has potential for anti-cariogenic activity against and for modulating oral microbial communities within the cariogenic microenvironment, providing new therapeutic strategies for preventing dental caries.

IMPORTANCE

Dental caries is a major global health concern, affecting millions and contributing to reduced quality of life and economic burdens. Our study investigated the properties of mutanocyclin (MUC), a recently discovered secondary metabolite produced by . Our work sheds light on the role of MUC in modulating microbial communities in the oral cavity. We demonstrated that MUC influences the formation and cariogenicity of biofilms and its interactions with other beneficial oral bacteria. This research enhances our understanding of newly discovered secondary metabolites of and offers a potential novel strategy for managing the microbial imbalances that lead to caries.