A1 Journal article (refereed)
Mucosal Environment Induces Phage Susceptibility in Streptococcus mutans (2022)

Sundberg, L.-R., Rantanen, N., & de Freitas Almeida, G. M. (2022). Mucosal Environment Induces Phage Susceptibility in Streptococcus mutans. PHAGE, 3(3), 128-135. https://doi.org/10.1089/phage.2022.0021

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Sundberg, Lotta-Riina; Rantanen, Noora; de Freitas Almeida, Gabriel Magno

Journal or series: PHAGE

ISSN: 2641-6530

eISSN: 2641-6549

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 01/09/2022

Volume: 3

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 128-135

Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/phage.2022.0021

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria are attracted toward mucosa, as it is their way of entry into the body. However, we know surprisingly little about the phage-bacterium interactions in the mucosal environment. Here, we explored the effect of the mucosal environment on growth characteristics and phage-bacterium interactions in Streptococcus mutans, a causative agent of dental caries. We found that although mucin supplementation increased bacterial growth and survival, it decreased S. mutans biofilm formation. More importantly, the presence of mucin had a significant effect on S. mutans phage susceptibility. In two experiments done in Brain Heart Infusion Broth, phage M102 replication was detected only with 0.2% mucin supplementation. In 0.1 × Tryptic Soy Broth, 0.5% mucin supplementation led to a 4-log increase in phage titers compared with the control. These results suggest that the mucosal environment can have a major role in the growth, phage sensitivity, and phage resistance of S. mutans, and underline the importance of understanding the effect of mucosal environment on phage-bacterium interactions.

Keywords: bacteria; streptococci; biofilms; mucous membranes; bacteriophages; phage therapy

Free keywords: bacteriophage; biofilm; mucin; streptococcus mutans; phage; phage therapy

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 0