• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.626-636
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• 2003

Pediococcus pentosaceus K1270 was isolated from naturally fermented kimchi and identified based on the 16S rDNA sequence as well as cultural and biochemical characteristics. This strain strongly inhibited the formation of biofilm by Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt. K1270 also showed antibacterial activity against S. mutans Ingbritt. It was observed that K1270 strain produced hydrogen peroxide on MRS agar supplemented with 3, 3, 5, 5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and peroxidase and the inhibitory effect of K1270 strain on the biofilm formation was reversed by the addition of catalase in part. Culture supernatant of K1270 inhibited the biofilm formation and the multiplication of S. mutans Ingbritt. This inhibitory effect of culture supernatant was decreased slightly by the addition of catalase and abolished by heat or trypsin treatment. Thus, this study suggests that P. pentosaceus K1270 inhibit the biofilm formation through the inhibition of the replication of S. mutans Ingbritt by producing hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocin.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2012

Sucrose-glucan glucosyltransferase (Gtf) is an important enzyme involved in the cavity formation process where insoluble glucan is synthesized. In this study, we purified Gtf from Streptcoccus mutans Ingbritt through ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-150, CM-Sephadex, and DEAE-Sephadex column chromatographies. A 13-fold of purification was achieved with a total yield of 6.3%. The apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was determined to be 66 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The optimal pH and temperature were established to be 6.0 and $40^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme activity could be inhibited to 22-59% by 1 mM $Hg^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$ and $Al^{3+}$, and to 68% by 1 mM EDTA. It was also inhibited 40% by 2 mM xylitol and 35-45% by 0.05% soluble chitosan, glycol chitosan, and glycol chitin. This is the first report to reveal the inhibition effect of chitin derivatives on Gtf activity, which may be further applicable to develop gargles to overcome cavity.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.299-308
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• 2007

Insoluble glucan is the important component of oral biofilm, which is synthesized from sucrose through the action of glucosyltransferase (GTF) B and GTF C encoded by the gtfB and gtfC genes, respectively of Streptococcus mutans. In present study, the effects of various sugars on the mRNA expression of gtfB and gtfC of S. mutans Ingbritt were examined by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The mRNA of gtfB and gtfC was expressed normally in the BHI broth containing 1% and 5% sucrose. The mRNA expression was decreased by the addition of 10% of glucose, and 1%, 5% and 10% of fructose. Lactose had no great effect on the expression of gtfB and gtfC. 5% and 10% of xylitol greatly reduced the mRNA expression of gtfB and gtfC. Sorbitol slightly decreased the mRNA expression of gtfB and gtfC when compared to the control. In summary, mRNA expression of gtfB and gtfC was decreased by the addition of glucose, fructose, and xylitol.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.124-134
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• 2006

Statement of problem: Streptococcus produces energy and forms extracellular polysaccharides by metabolizing sucrose. Insoluble glucan, a kind of extracellular polysaccharide, is the important material of dental plaque. Fructose affects the metabolism of sucrose. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fructose on the metabolism of sucrose in Streptococcus mutans. Materials and methods: To determine the effect of fructose on the formation of artificial plaque by Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt, S. mutans and fructose were placed in beakers containing M17 broth and sucrose. The wires were hung on frameworks inserted into cork stoppers, and then immersed in each of the beakers. After the incubation with gentle shaking, each wire was weighed. To analyze the effect of fructose on the sucrose metabolism by S. mutans or glucosyltransferase, S. mutans and fructose were placed in M17 broth containing sucrose. After the incubation. the remaining sucrose and polymers were analysed by thin layer chromatography. Results: The following results were obtained; 1. When Streptococcus mutans was cultured in the media containing 3% sucrose for 8 hours, the mean weight of formed artificial plaque on the wires was $124.3{\pm}3.0mg$, whereas being reduced to $20.7{\pm}10.2mg$ in the media added with 3% sucrose and 4% fructose(p<0.05) 2. When the control containing glucose was added with sucrose, the optical density of Streptococcus mutans solution cultured for 24 hours was not increased compared with the control, while being increased by adding with fructose. 3. When Streptococcus mutans was incubated in the media added with sucrose and fructose for 8 hours, the number of viable cells was increased compared with the media added with sucrose. 4. The amount of remained sucrose was increased in Streptococcus mutans culture supernatant of media added with sucrose and fructose than with sucrose only. but the amount of produced insoluble glucan was decreased. 5. The amounts of remained sucrose and produced soluble glucan were increased in the culture of glucosyltransferase-contained media added with sucrose and fructose than with sucrose only, but the amount of produced insoluble glucan was decreased . Conclusion: These results indicated that the sucrose metabolism and the production of insoluble glucan were inhibited in Streptococcus mutans by adding fructose in the media containing sucrose.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2003

Streptococcus mutans is known to be a major causative organism of human dental caries. The development of a vaccine against dental caries involves identification of appropriate antigens of mutans streptococci against which protective immune responses can be mounted, and the selection of a method of immunization that will generate sustained levels of protective antibodies. Antigens receiving most attention include streptococcal surface proteins that are involved in attachment to tooth surfaces and glucosyltransferases (GTF) that synthesize adhesive glucans from sucrose. The induction of antibody responses to orally administered antigens is often difficult due to digestive destruction of antigens and immune tolerance. Here we report the induction of antibody responses to an anti-caries vaccine containing retinoic acid (RA). Subcutaneous immunization with formalin-fixed bacteria or GTF supplemented with RA induced higher serum IgM and IgA responses to GTF compaired to oral adminstration. Antisera induced by Ingbritt strain showed partial cross-reaction with LM-7 strain, but not with OMZ175. These results suggest that subcutaneous immunization with GTF combined with an immunomodulator, RA, may be applied to anti-caries vaccine.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.625-631
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• 2002

The effect of combinations of 8 antimicrobial agents on the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus was investigated with the minimum inhibitory concentration and fractional inhibitory concentration(FIC) and ${\Sigma}FIC$ index. According to the ${\Sigma}FIC$ values by. The American Society for Microbiology and Berenbaum, Approximately 34% and 82% of the combinations were synergistic respectively. Partial synergy described by Isenberg was also observed in the half of the combinations. There was a tendency for additive antimicrobial effect against cariogenic bacteria though the test results showed difference according to the applied values. It may be beneficial to use combined antimicrobial agents that have various activities against an ecosystem and metabolism of bacteria than using individual agents.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.605-616
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• 2004

Subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) refer to concentrations below minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The antimicrobial agents may be present at relatively high concentration, at least higher than bacterial MIC and thereafter be deserted off a surface and function at sub-MICs, perhaps by interfering with bacterial metabolism. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of growth, in the presence of sub-MICs of antimicrobial agents, on the cell surface properties and virulence factors of mutans streptococci and to investigate the efficacy of a chemical approach in vitro. Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt and Streptococcus sobrinus 6715-7 were used. Eight antimicrobial agents (Sanguinaria extract;SG, Chlorhexidine digluconate;CHX, Fluoride;F, Propolis;PP, Hydrogen peroxide;HP, Triclosan;TC, Sodium dodecyl sulfate;SDS Cetylpyridinium chloride; CC) were diluted serially in broth to determine MICs and to compare the growth rate, acid production, hydrophobicity, adhesion activity to saliva coated hydroxyapatite, glucan synthesis and cellular aggregation of experiment groups (in the presence of sub-MICs) with those of control (in the absence of antimicrobial agents). Sub-MICs of antimicrobial agents affected the growth of cells, hydrophobicity, and adhesion of bacteria to saliva coated hydroxyapatite and glucan synthesis. They also resulted in a significant reduction in pH after 12 hours (p<0.05). By cells pretreated with proteinase K, either the aggregation induced by antimicrobial agents was completely inhibited or the aggregation titers were markedly increased. According to the results of the present study, each antimicrobial agent at sub-MICs could affect similar as its known action mechanism and could continually inhibit cariogenic bacteria at such concentrations. Thus, the use of these antimicrobial agents would be one of the effective methods to prevent dental caries.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.547-554
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• 2004

The surface characteristics of restoration such as surface roughness and droplet contact angle are important part for the process of bacterial adhesion. The purpose of this study is to compare plaque adhesion by measuring roughness, droplet contact angle, and amount of accumulated plaque on the surfaces of composite resins. Four kinds of composite resins, Z-100(Z1), Durafil(DF), Filtek supreme(FS), Clearfil AP X(CA) were used. Ten samples were divided into unpolished and polished group. Surface roughnesses and droplet contact angles were measured by profilometer and goniometer. Plaque weight gains are measured. The results were as follows: 1. The experimental group were rougher than the control group. Surface roughnesses were decreased in the following order; (Z1, DF, CA)>FS in the control group, and CA>Z1>(FS, DF) in the experimental group(P<0.05). 2 The control group showed larger contact angle than the experimental group. Contact angles were decreased in the following order; CA>(FS, DF, Z1) in the control group, and (CA, DF)>(FS, Z1) in the experimental group(P<0.05). 3. The experimental group showed more much plaque than the control group. The amounts of plaque accumulation in vitro were decreased in the following order; Z1>(DF, FS)>CA in the control group, and Z1>FS>(CA, DF) in the experimental group. The latter showed more much plaque than the former(P<0.05). 4. There were stronger correlation between plaque deposition and contact angle (P<0.05) than that of plaque deposition and surface roughness.