Streptococcus mutans e cárie dentária: estudos sobre a perspectiva de identificação de pacientes de risco à cárie e potencial da clorexidina como agente antimicrobiano bucal

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans is the main etiologic agent of dental caries, especially due to its ability to adhesion to the tooth surface. This bacterium produces glycosyltransferases that synthesize polymers of soluble and insoluble glucan from sucrose, which increases the colonization of cariogenic bacteria and promote the formation of biofilm on the surface of the teeth. Chlorhexidine is the most frequent topical antibiotic used in dentistry and is considered standard in the various dental specialties, but there are few studies on this drug at the molecular level. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of chlorhexidine gluconate against in vitro planktonic and biofilm Streptococcus mutans cells in a dose- and timedependent manner. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of chlorhexidine in planktonic cells and MBC in biofilms were determined by microdilution method. Total S. mutans RNA from either planktonic cells or biofilms exposed or non-exposed (controls) to chlorhexidine were extracted, purified and reversely transcribed to cDNA. Real-time reverse transcription- PCR was used to quantify the relative levels of 16S rRNA, gtfB, gtfC and gtfD transcription of S. mutans in the presence of CHX. The activity of CHX in the initial biofilm structure for 2 and 4 h and morphological alterations in planktonic cells, under a range of CHX concentrations, was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). CLX MIC and MBC for planktonic cells were 2.2 mg/L and 18 mg/L, respectively, while MBC for biofilm was 800 mg/L. Planktonic cells exposed to CLX 4.5 mg/L and 9 mg/L were reduced almost by 6- and 20-fold, whereas biofilm counts were reduced (2.5-fold or more) in concentrations above 500 mg/L. In planktonic cells, exposition to CHX 4.5 mg/L increased gtfC and gtfD expression by 11-fold and 4-fold (p<0.01), respectively. In biofilm, expression of gtfB, gtfC and gtfD were reduced (<1.6-fold p<0.01) at concentrations above 500mg/L. Cell surfaces did not show any change when planktonic cells were exposed to CHX at 4.5 mg/L for 2 or 4h, but after 6 h, several wilted S. mutans cells with lost intracellular material could be observed. A decrease in the cells chain length and matrix was found when the initial biofilm was exposed from 1.1 mg/L to 4.5 mg/L of CHX, while 1200 mg/L and 2000 mg/L caused extensive precipitation of unknown material on the slide. Thus, we conclude that the CHX effects against bacteria depend on the kind of growth organization and the concentration/time of exposure to the drug. CHX may affect cell walls and intervene with mechanisms of the biofilm formation, and at sub-lethal concentrations, affect the expression of gtfs, which may exert an anticariogenic effect.