• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.31-36
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• 2019

Streptococcus mutans is one of the important bacteria that forms dental biofilm and cause dental caries. Virulence genes in S. mutans can be classified into the genes involved in bacterial adhesion, extracellular polysaccharide formation, biofilm formation, sugar uptake and metabolism, acid tolerance, and regulation. The genes involved in bacterial adhesion are gbps (gbpA, gbpB, and gbpC) and spaP. The gbp genes encode glucan-binding protein (GBP) A, GBP B, and GBP C. The spaP gene encodes cell surface antigen, SpaP. The genes involved in extracellular polysaccharide formation are gtfs (gtfB, gtfC, and gtfD) and ftf, which encode glycosyltransferase (GTF) B, GTF C, and GTF D and fructosyltransferase, respectively. The genes involved in biofilm formation are smu630, relA, and comDE. The smu630 gene is important for biofilm formation. The relA and comDE genes contribute to quorumsensing and biofilm formation. The genes involved in sugar uptake and metabolism are eno, ldh, and relA. The eno gene encodes bacterial enolase, which catalyzes the formation of phosphoenolpyruvate. The ldh gene encodes lactic acid dehydrogenase. The relA gene contributes to the regulation of the glucose phosphotransferase system. The genes related to acid tolerance are atpD, aguD, brpA, and relA. The atpD gene encodes $F_1F_0$-ATPase, a proton pump that discharges $H^+$ from within the bacterium to the outside. The aguD gene encodes agmatine deiminase system and produces alkali to overcome acid stress. The genes involved in regulation are vicR, brpA, and relA.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.181-192
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• 2005

This study evaluated the effect of factors influencing the initial biofilm formation in drinking water distribution pipe by running experiments using a $2^{4-1}$ fractional factorial experimental design with a replicate. Important variables used for assessing biofilm formation included BDOC(biodegradable dissolved organic carbon), viable heterotrophic bacteria present in drinking water, water temperature, and shear stress at two levels each. Based on the statistical analysis of biofilm levels measured as attached HPC(heterotrophic plate count) and community-level assay, the main factors that have significant effects on biofilm formation were found to be viable heterotrophic bacteria and BDOC. Water temperature only exhibited significant effect on the levels of attached HPC, while shear stress was not a significant factor under given conditions. Moreover, the statistical analysis revealed that interactions between the important variables were not statistically significant at a 0.05 significance level.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.195-203
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• 2018

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been widely used as an initial mucolytic agent and is generally used as an antioxidant to help alleviate various inflammatory symptoms. NAC reduces bacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production, bacterial adhesion to the surface and strength of mature biofilm. The efficacy has been shown to inhibit proliferation of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes, which contain a variety of gram negative bacteria, biofilm formation has become a serious problem in stable operation. In this study, use of NAC as an inhibitor of biofilm contamination was investigated using the center for disease control (CDC) reactors with MBR sludge. Biomass reduction was confirmed with CLSM images of membrane surfaces by addition of NAC, which was more efficient as the concentration of NAC was increased to 1.5 mg/mL. NAC addition also showed decreases in EPS concentrations of the preformed biofilm, indicating that NAC was able to degrade EPS in the mature biofilm. NAC addition was also effective to inhibit biofilm formation by MBR sludge, which consisted of various microorganisms in consortia.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare in vivo biofilm formation on titanium surface and zirconia surface. Materials and methods: For biofilm formation on titanium and zirconia in oral cavity, after producing oral appliances using acrylic resin and orthodontic wire tailored to 9 subjects, we made titanium and zirconia specimens ($6mm{\times}6mm{\times}2mm$), fixed them on oral appliances and maintained them in oral cavity of test subjects for 24 and 72 hours. Test subjects who have equipped two pairs of specimens maintained oral hygiene not by using toothpaste but only by tooth brushing. After 24 and 72 hours, we removed and observed specimens through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Biofilm formation showed large deviation depending on individuals. For formation comparison between titanium and zirconia for 24 hours, zirconia showed less biofilm formation than titanium. Biofilm formation showed large deviation depending on individuals. As for formation comparison between zirconia and titanium, the degree of biofilm formation in zirconia was less than it was in titanium after a lapse of 24 hours. The result of biofilm formation in 72 hours trial show that zirconia has an inclination to formate less biofilm than it was in titanium. Conclusion: Based on the above results, we can conclude that early biofilm formation in oral cavity was influenced by difference of abutment materials.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1908-1919
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• 2015

This work investigated the potential of curcumin (CCM) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to inhibit N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated biofilm formation in gram-negative bacteria from membrane bioreactor (MBR) activated sludge. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of CCM alone against all the tested bacteria were 200-350 μg/ml, whereas those for EGCG were 300-600 μg/ml. Biofilm formation at one-half MICs indicated that CCM and EGCG alone respectively inhibited 52-68% and 59-78% of biofilm formation among all the tested bacteria. However, their combination resulted in 95-99% of biofilm reduction. Quorum sensing inhibition (QSI) assay with known biosensor strains demonstrated that CCM inhibited the expression of C4 and C6 homoserine lactones (HSLs)-mediated phenotypes, whereas EGCG inhibited C4, C6, and C10 HSLs-based phenotypes. The Center for Disease Control biofilm reactor containing a multispecies culture of nine bacteria with one-half MIC of CCM (150 μg/ml) and EGCG (275 μg/ml) showed 17 and 14 μg/cm² of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on polyvinylidene fluoride membrane surface, whereas their combination (100 μg/ml of each) exhibited much lower EPS content (3 μg/cm²). Confocal laser scanning microscopy observations also illustrated that the combination of compounds tremendously reduced the biofilm thickness. The combined effect of CCM with EGCG clearly reveals for the first time the enhanced inhibition of AHL-mediated biofilm formation in bacteria from activated sludge. Thus, such combined natural QSI approach could be used for the inhibition of membrane biofouling in MBRs treating wastewaters.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1001-1013
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• 2020

The formation of biofilms on the enamel surface of teeth by Streptococcus mutans is an important step in dental plaque formation, demineralization, and early caries because the biofilm is where other bacteria involved in dental caries attach, grow, and proliferate. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of phosvitin (PSV) on the biofilm formation, exopolysaccharides (EPS) production, adherence activity of S. mutans, and the expression of genes related to the compounds essential for biofilm formation (quorum-sensing inducers and components of biofilm matrix) by S. mutans. PSV significantly reduced the biofilm-forming activity of S. mutans and increased the degradation of preformed biofilms by S. mutans. PSV inhibited the adherence activity of S. mutans by 31.9%-33.6%, and the production of EPS by 62%-65% depending upon the strains and the amount of PSV added. The expressions of genes regulating the production of EPS and the quorum-sensing-inducers (gtfA, gtfD, ftf, relA, vicR, brpA, and comDE) in all S. mutans strains were down-regulated by PSV, but gtfB was down-regulated only in S. mutans KCTC 5316. Therefore, the anti-biofilm-forming activity of PSV was accomplished through the inhibition of biofilm formation, adherence activity, and the production of quorum-sensing inducers and EPS by S. mutans.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.171-175
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• 2018

Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell density-dependent communication mechanism between bacteria through small signaling molecules. When the number of QS signaling molecules reaches a threshold, they are transported back into the cells or recognized by membrane-bound receptors, triggering gene expression which affects various phenotypes including bioluminescence, virulence, adhesion, and biofilm formation. These phenotypes are beneficial for bacterial survival in harsh environments. This review summarizes the application of QS inhibitors for control of biofilm formation and virulence expression of periodontal pathogens.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1020-1030
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• 2022

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) from Enterococcus faecium DB1 on cariogenic Streptococcus mutans biofilm. Crystal violet staining, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy analyses demonstrated that the BLIS from Enterococcus faecium DB1 (DB1 BLIS) inhibited S. mutans biofilm. When DB1 BLIS was co-incubated with S. mutans, biofilm formation by S. mutans was significantly reduced (p<0.05). DB1 BLIS also destroyed the preformed biofilm of S. mutans. In addition, DB1 BLIS decreased the viability of S. mutans biofilm cells during the development of biofilm formation and in the preformed biofilm. DB1 BLIS significantly decreased the growth of S. mutans planktonic cells. Furthermore, S. mutans biofilm on the surface of saliva-coated hydroxyapatite discs was reduced by DB1 BLIS. Taken together, DB1 BLIS might be useful as a preventive and therapeutic agent against dental caries caused by S. mutans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1609-1616
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• 2017

The complex roles of cell surface modification in the biofilm formation of Campylobacter jejuni, a major cause of worldwide foodborne diarrheal disease, are poorly understood. In a screen of mutants from random transposon mutagenesis, an insertional mutation in the eptC gene (cj0256) resulted in a significant decrease in C. jejuni NCTC11168 biofilm formation (<20%) on major food contact surfaces, such as polystyrene and borosilicate glass, when compared with wild-type cells (p < 0.05). In C. jejuni strain 81-176, the protein encoded by eptC modified cell surface structures, such as lipid A, the inner core of lipooligosaccharide, and the flagellar rod protein (FlgG), by attaching phosphoethanolamine. To assess the role of eptC in C. jejuni NCTC11168, adherence and motility tests were performed. In adhesion assays with glass surfaces, the eptC mutant exhibited a $0.77log\;CFU/cm^2$ decrease in adherence compared with wild-type cells during the initial 2 h of the assay (p < 0.05). These results support the hypothesis that the modification of cell surface structures by eptC affects the initial adherence in biofilm formation of C. jejuni NCTC11168. In motility tests, the eptC mutant demonstrated reduced motility when compared with wild-type cells, but wild-type cells with the transposon inserted in a gene irrelevant to biofilm formation (cj1111c) also exhibited decreased motility to a similar extent as the eptC mutant. This suggests that although eptC affects motility, it does not significantly affect biofilm formation. This study demonstrates that eptC is essential for initial adherence, and plays a significant role in the biofilm formation of C. jejuni NCTC11168.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.456-460
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• 2004

Effects of sigma factor (${\sigma}^{B}$) on biofilm formation in Listeria monocytogenes 10403S and ${\sigma}^{B}-deficient$ sigB null mutant were studied under high osmotic and low temperature conditions. In brain heart infusion (BHI) medium containing 6% NaCl, wild type 10403S and ${\sigma}^{B}-deficient$sigB null mutant formed biofilms of $6.83{\pm}0.38\;and\;5.33{\pm}0.45\;log\;cfu/cm^{2}$, respectively. L. monocytogenes 10403S in BHI medium containing 6% NaCl formed 4.7 times larger biofilm than without NaCl. Culture of L. monocytogenes 10403S and sigB null mutant at $4^{\circ}C$ did not show any significant differences in biofilm formation. The results suggest biofilm formation is activated by ${\sigma}^{B}$ and NaCl, whereas not affected by low temperature stress in L. monocytogenes 10403S. More studies are necessary to determine biofilm formation mechanism in osmotolerant L. monocytogenes.