What is it about?
GlcNAc is an abundant carbon-nitrogen source in earth biosphere and most known bacteria can catabolize it. More importantly, metabolism of GlcNAc and GlcN is often critical to the maintenance of bacterial envelope structures. Here we looked at the difference in the ability to utilize GlcNAc by the major caries pathogen S. mutans and a number of important beneficial commensal bacteria.
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Why is it important?
GlcNAc is a significant C/N source to oral biofilms, especially when nutrients are scarce in between meals. The ability of different bacteria to utilize this sugar could thus significantly affect the outcome of their competitions.
Perspectives
Although most bacteria we know can utilize GlcNAc for growth, there are intricate differences in the molecular and physiological processes involved (see our other publications). We have noted that S. mutans often becomes intoxicated by GlcNAc if the catabolic genes are not properly induced. When presented with significant amounts of GlcNAc, the other friendlier bacteria species outcompeted the pathogen in our model systems. Knowledge regarding the impact of GlcNAc to the homeostasis of the dental biofilms could allow us to modulate the virulence potentials of these microbial communities and ultimately dental health.
Dr Lin Zeng
University of Florida
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Amino Sugars Enhance the Competitiveness of Beneficial Commensals with Streptococcus mutans through Multiple Mechanisms, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2016, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/aem.00637-16.
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