Effect of bioactive compounds on the regulation of quorum sensing network-associated genes and virulence in Streptococcus mutans—A systematic review

• Published in: Archives of oral biology 2020-11, Vol.119, p.104893-104893, Article 104893
• Main Authors: Rocha, Francisco R., Regis, Wanessa F.M., Duarte, Simone, Muniz, Francisco W.M.G., Rodrigues, Lidiany K.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Competence-stimulating peptide; Dental caries; Dentistry; Quorum quenching; Quorum Sensing - genetics; Streptococcus mutans - drug effects; Streptococcus mutans - genetics; Streptococcus mutans - pathogenicity; Virulence - genetics
• ISSN: 0003-9969; 1879-1506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2020.104893

•S. mutans (QS)-associated virulence properties can be regulated by compounds.•QS inhibitors (QSI) have potential application for biological caries control.•Most studied QSI compounds were from synthetic origin.•The quality of the support from the studies ranged from high to low.•More qualified evidence is needed to reveal the QS target-specific for bioactives. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on the effect of bioactive compounds and their regulation of quorum sensing (QS)-related and/or -regulated-virulence genes expression in Streptococcus mutans. The search strategy was conducted through the electronic databases Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies reporting the effects of natural and synthetic bioactive compounds on the regulation of QS-associated and/or -regulated genes of S. mutans. After full-text reading, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria, in most of them, QS-inhibitors from synthetic origin were evaluated, 16 articles described the effect of the compounds on biofilm formation cultivated in vitro and five studies described these effects on adhesion of biofilm-producing cells. Only 2 studies analyzed the potential target-component of the QS. Mostly, the bioactive compounds affected the expression of QS-associated and/or -regulated genes and virulence traits (e.g. adhesion, biofilm formation, acid stress tolerance) of S. mutans. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the target-specific QS-system constituent used by bioactive compounds to achieve QS inhibition as well as validate the use of these compounds in controlling dental caries.