Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of human dental caries, possesses at least two fructose phosphotransferase systems (PTSs), encoded by fruI and fruCD. fruI is also responsible for xylitol transport. We hypothesized that fructose and xylitol transport systems do not affect virulence. Thus, colonization and cariogenicity of fruI− and fruCD− single and double mutants, their WT (UA159), and xylitol resistance (Xr) of S. mutans were studied in rats fed a high-sucrose diet. A sucrose phosphorylase (gtfA−) mutant and a reference strain (NCTC-10449S) were additional controls. Recoveries of fruI mutant from the teeth were decreased, unlike those for the other strains. The fruCD mutation was associated with a slight loss of cariogenicity on enamel, whereas mutation of fruI was associated with a loss of cariogenicity in dentin. These results also suggest why xylitol inhibition of caries is paradoxically associated with spontaneous emergence of so-called XrS. mutans in habitual human xylitol users.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ajdic D, McShan WM, McLaughlin RE, Savic G, Chang J, Carson MB, et al. -2002-. Genome sequence of Streptococcus mutans UA159, a cariogenic dental pathogen. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA99:14434–14439.
2.
Barletta RG, Michalek SM, Curtiss R III -1988-. Analysis of the virulence of Streptococcus mutans serotype c gtfA mutants in the rat model system. Infect Immun56:322–330.
3.
Birkhed D, Tanzer JM -1979-. Glycogen synthesis pathway in Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449S and its glycogen synthesis-defective mutant 805. Arch Oral Biol24:67–74.
4.
Coykendall AL -1989-. Classification and identification of the viridans streptococci. Clin Microbiol Rev2:315–328.
5.
Cvitkovitch DG, Boyd DA, Hamilton IR -1995-. Regulation of sugar transport via the multiple sugar metabolism operon of Streptococcus mutans by the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system. J Bacteriol177:5704–5706.
6.
Isokangas P, Söderling E, Pienihäkkinen K, Alanen P -2000-. Occurrence of dental decay in children after maternal consumption of xylitol chewing gum, a follow-up from 0 to 5 years of age. J Dent Res79:1885–1889.
7.
Kuramitsu HK -1973-. Characterization of invertase activity from cariogenic Streptococcus mutans. J Bacteriol115:1003–1010.
8.
Kuramitsu HK -1993-. Virulence factors of mutans streptococci: role of molecular genetics. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med4:159–176.
9.
LeBlanc D -1994-. Role of sucrose metabolism in the cariogenicity of the mutans streptococci. In: Molecular genetics of bacterial pathogenesis: a tribute to Stanley Falkow. Chap. 31. Miller VL, Kaper JB, Portnoy DA, Isberg RR, editors. Washington, DC: ASM Press, pp. 465–477.
10.
Mäkinen KK, Bennett CA, Hujoel PP, Isokangas PJ, Isotupa KP, Pape HR Jr, et al. -1995-. Xylitol chewing gums and caries rates: a 40-month cohort study. J Dent Res74:1904–1913.
11.
Mandel ID -1970-. Effects of dietary modifications on caries in humans. J Dent Res49:1201–1211.
12.
Scheinin A, Mäkinen KK, editors -1975-. Turku sugar studies: I-XXI. Acta Odontol Scand33-Suppl 70-:1–348.
13.
Slee AM, Tanzer JM -1982-. Sucrose transport by Streptococcus mutans. Evidence for multiple transport systems. Biochim Biophys Acta692:415–424.
14.
Söderling E, Isokangas P, Pienihäkkinen K, Tenovuo J -2000-. Influence of maternal xylitol consumption on acquisition of mutans streptococci by infants. J Dent Res79:882–887.
15.
Tanzer JM -1979-. Essential dependence of smooth surface caries on, and augmentation of fissure caries by, sucrose and Streptococcus mutans infection. Infect Immun25:526–531.
16.
Tanzer JM, Chassy BM, Krichevsky MI -1971-. Sucrose metabolism by Streptococcus mutans, SL-I. Biochim Biophys Acta261:379–387.
17.
Tanzer JM, Brown AT, McInerney MF -1973-. Identification, preliminary characterization, and evidence for the regulation of invertase in Streptococcus mutans. J Bacteriol116:192–202.
18.
Tanzer JM, Brown AT, McInerney MF, Woodiel FN -1977-. Comparative study of invertases of Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun16:318–327.
19.
Tanzer JM, Freedman ML, Fitzgerald RJ -1985a-. Virulence of mutants defective in glucosyl transferase, dextran-mediated aggregation, or dextranase activity. In: Molecular basis of oral microbial adhesion. Mergenhagen SE, Rosan B, editors. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology, pp. 204–211.
20.
Tanzer JM, Kurasz AB, Clive J -1985b-. Competitive displacement of mutans streptococci and inhibition of tooth decay by Streptococcus salivarius TOVE-R. Infect Immun48:44–50.
21.
Tanzer JM, Livingston J, Thompson AM -2001a-. The microbiology of primary dental caries. In: Consensus development conference on the diagnosis & management of dental caries throughout life. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and Office of Medical Applications of Research, NIH. Full Paper with Evidence Tables. http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/news/consensus/jason_tanzer.pdf
22.
Tanzer JM, Baranowski LK, Rogers JD, Haase EM, Scannapieco FA -2001b-. Oral colonization and cariogenicity of Streptococcus gordonii in specific pathogen-free TAN:SPFOM-OM-BR rats consuming starch or sucrose diets. Arch Oral Biol46:323–333.
23.
Tanzer JM, Grant L, Thompson A, Li L, Rogers JD, Haase EM, et al. -2003-. Amylase-binding proteins A -AbpA- and B -AbpB- differentially affect colonization of rats’ teeth by Streptococcus gordonii. Microbiology149:2653–2660.
24.
Tao L, Sutcliffe IC, Russell RR, Ferretti JJ -1993-. Transport of sugars, including sucrose, by the msm transport system of Streptococcus mutans. J Dent Res72:1386–1390.
25.
Trahan L -1995-. Xylitol: a review of its action on mutans streptococci and dental plaque—its significance. Int Dent J45-1 Suppl 1-:77–92.
26.
Trahan L, Mouton C -1987-. Selection for Streptococcus mutans with an altered xylitol transport capacity in chronic xylitol consumers. J Dent Res66:982–988.
27.
Wen ZT, Burne RA -2001-. Construction of a new integration vector for use in Streptococcus mutans. Plasmid45:31–36.
28.
Wen ZT, Browngardt C, Burne RA -2001-. Characterization of two operons that encode components of fructose-specific enzyme II of the sugar:phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus mutans. FEMS Microbiol Lett205:337–342.
29.
Yamashita Y, Bowen WH, Burne RA, Kuramitsu HK -1993-. Role of Streptococcus mutans gtf genes in caries induction in the specific-pathogen-free rat model. Infect Immun61:3811–3817.
