What is it about?
Our mouths are home to a complex community of bacteria, many of which build sticky films on teeth called plaque, also known as biofilms. These biofilms are central to the development of cavities. In this study, researchers discovered that Streptococcus mutans and related bacteria carry a set of genes that produce two small molecules, known as mutanoclumpins. Each molecule has a distinct structure and binds to cells in a different way, and together they help bacteria assemble into stronger plaque biofilms. Importantly, people whose oral bacteria harbor these genes are more likely to experience cavities, revealing a direct genetic and chemical link to cavity development.
Featured Image
Photo by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Most research on cavities has focused on identifying which bacteria are responsible for cavity formation, but this work shows that it is not only the presence of microbes that is important—it is also the molecules they produce. This study demonstrates that a single gene cluster can generate two distinct compounds that act together to support plaque (or biofilm) formation, a trait necessary for cavity development. Such dual-molecule cooperative action is uncommon and highlights the chemical sophistication of microbial communities in the mouth. The significance extends beyond oral health, since biofilms are central to many bacterial infections. Recognizing the role of small molecules in biofilm assembly reframes how biofilm structure is understood and points toward strategies to disrupt them, an area where effective interventions remain limited.
Perspectives
This study highlights the value of metagenomics for moving beyond associations between microbial species and disease to identifying the functions that drive pathology. By examining biosynthetic gene clusters enriched in cavity-associated microbiomes, this approach makes it possible to pinpoint the molecules most likely to influence disease processes, providing a clearer link between microbial genetics, chemistry, and oral health outcomes.
McKenna Loop Yao
University of California Berkeley
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Synergistic action of specialized metabolites from divergent biosynthesis in the human oral microbiome, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2504492122.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
