TY - JOUR
T1 - Trans, Trans-Farnesol Enhances the Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Biofilm Effect of Arachidonic Acid on the Cariogenic Bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus
AU - Haj-Yahya, Farah
AU - Steinberg, Doron
AU - Sionov, Ronit Vogt
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - Background: Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are Gram-positive bacteria involved in the development of dental caries, as they are able to form biofilms on tooth enamel, ferment sugars into acids, and survive under acidic conditions. This ultimately leads to a local lowering of the pH value on the tooth surface, which causes enamel cavities. Hypothesis: One measure to reduce caries is to limit the growth of cariogenic bacteria by using two anti-bacterial agents with different mechanisms of action. The hypothesis of this study was that the anti-bacterial activity of ω-6 polyunsaturated arachidonic acid (AA) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus can be enhanced by the sesquiterpene alcohol trans, trans-farnesol (t,t-farnesol). Methods: The anti-bacterial activity of single and combined treatment was determined by the checkerboard assay. Bacterial viability was assessed by live/dead SYTO 9/propidium iodide (PI) staining on flow cytometry. Anti-biofilm activity was determined by MTT metabolic assay, crystal violet staining of biofilm biomass, SYTO 9/PI staining by spinning disk confocal microscopy (SDCM) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM). Results: t,t-Farnesol lowered the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of AA at sub-MICs. AA reduced the metabolic activity of preformed mature biofilms, while t,t-farnesol had no significant effect. The enhanced anti-bacterial effect of the combined t,t-farnesol/AA treatment was further evidenced by increased PI uptake, indicating membrane perforation. The enhanced anti-biofilm effect was further verified by SDCM and HR-SEM. Gene expression studies showed reduced expression of some biofilm-related genes. Conclusions: Altogether, our study suggests a potential use of the two naturally occurring compounds arachidonic acid and t,t-farnesol for preventing biofilm formation by the cariogenic bacteria S. mutans and S. sobrinus. These findings have implications for caries prevention.
AB - Background: Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are Gram-positive bacteria involved in the development of dental caries, as they are able to form biofilms on tooth enamel, ferment sugars into acids, and survive under acidic conditions. This ultimately leads to a local lowering of the pH value on the tooth surface, which causes enamel cavities. Hypothesis: One measure to reduce caries is to limit the growth of cariogenic bacteria by using two anti-bacterial agents with different mechanisms of action. The hypothesis of this study was that the anti-bacterial activity of ω-6 polyunsaturated arachidonic acid (AA) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus can be enhanced by the sesquiterpene alcohol trans, trans-farnesol (t,t-farnesol). Methods: The anti-bacterial activity of single and combined treatment was determined by the checkerboard assay. Bacterial viability was assessed by live/dead SYTO 9/propidium iodide (PI) staining on flow cytometry. Anti-biofilm activity was determined by MTT metabolic assay, crystal violet staining of biofilm biomass, SYTO 9/PI staining by spinning disk confocal microscopy (SDCM) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM). Results: t,t-Farnesol lowered the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of AA at sub-MICs. AA reduced the metabolic activity of preformed mature biofilms, while t,t-farnesol had no significant effect. The enhanced anti-bacterial effect of the combined t,t-farnesol/AA treatment was further evidenced by increased PI uptake, indicating membrane perforation. The enhanced anti-biofilm effect was further verified by SDCM and HR-SEM. Gene expression studies showed reduced expression of some biofilm-related genes. Conclusions: Altogether, our study suggests a potential use of the two naturally occurring compounds arachidonic acid and t,t-farnesol for preventing biofilm formation by the cariogenic bacteria S. mutans and S. sobrinus. These findings have implications for caries prevention.
KW - anti-bacterial
KW - arachidonic acid
KW - biofilm
KW - dental caries
KW - Streptococcus mutans
KW - trans
KW - trans-farnesol
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208596656&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijms252111770
DO - 10.3390/ijms252111770
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
C2 - 39519322
AN - SCOPUS:85208596656
SN - 1661-6596
VL - 25
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
IS - 21
M1 - 11770
ER -