Lactobacillus reuteri Attenuates Streptococcus mutans Virulence Gene Expression in Fixed Orthodontic Patients Deandra Carissa Wiriawan 1, Joko Kusnoto 2*, Armelia Sari Widyarman 3
1. Postgraduate Student, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Trisakti, Indonesia
2. Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Trisakti, Indonesia
3. Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Trisakti, Indonesia
Abstract
Background: The expression of Streptococcus mutans gbpB and gtfb virulence genes of Streptococcus mutans in cariogenic biofilm formation associated with early white spot lesios (WSLs) has found to be in increased during orthodontic treatment. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of consuming lozenges containing the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri on the expression levels of S.mutans virulence genes (gbpB, gtfB) in dental plaque biofilms of patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. Methods: Dental plaque samples were obtained from 20 subjects before and after consuming L.reuteri probiotic lozenges (Biogaia, Stockholm, Sweden) dose of 2x108 CFU/ml, once a day for 14 days. Subsequently, RNA was extracted from samples, cDNA was synthesized and subjected to Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primers for gbpB and gtfB genes of S.mutans. Housekeeping gene lepA was used as the reference. Statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro-Wilk normality test and paired t-test with p<0.05 as level of significance. Results: Expression of gbpB genes were found to be significantly decreased (p<0.05) with fold change before (13,7 +/- 17,00) and after (0,46 +/- 0,34) probiotic consumption, as well as the expression of gtfB genes before (4,66 +/- 5,59) and after (0,62 +/- 0,35) probiotic consumption. Conclusion: Probiotic L. reuteri consumption may help reduce the S.mutans virulence genes in dental plaque biofilm of patients using fixed orthodontic appliances. However, further study is needed to optimize the probiotic intervention protocol to maximum the beneficial effect.
