A defined cross-kingdom dual-species plaque biofilm model capturing the synergistic virulence of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in early childhood caries. Coinfection produces an EPS-rich biofilm with higher biomass, larger microcolonies, and more severe carious lesions than either species alone.
Taxonomy
| Taxon | Ontology ID | Functional Roles | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streptococcus mutans | NCBITaxon:1309 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Candida albicans | NCBITaxon:5476 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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Ecological Interactions
The graph shows only explicitly linked interaction participants. Community members without an asserted participant link are omitted; membership alone does not imply an interaction.
Cross-Kingdom Biofilm Enhancement
MUTUALISMCoinoculation of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans enhances biofilm formation relative to either species alone in both in vitro and in vivo settings.
Source Taxon: Streptococcus mutans
Target Taxon: Candida albicans
Biological Processes:
- biofilm formation (GO:0042710 · PathwayMech)
PARTIAL: the mixed biofilm provides the proposed context for the greater disease severity in the rodent model. Coinfection establishes an effect on carriage and lesions, but does not isolate biofilm quantity as the necessary mediator of the lesion outcome or establish human disease causation.
Evidence
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PMID:24566629 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"We showed that the ability of these organisms together to form biofilms is enhanced in vitro and in vivo."
Candida-Driven EPS Amplification of Streptococcus mutans
COLONIZATION_FACILITATIONCandida albicans promotes an EPS-rich matrix and higher viable Streptococcus mutans abundance within cospecies plaque biofilms. This observation is from the in-vitro biofilm comparison, not a direct measurement of EPS mediation in animals.
Source Taxon: Candida albicans
Target Taxon: Streptococcus mutans
Biological Processes:
- biofilm formation (GO:0042710 · PathwayMech)
Candida-driven exopolysaccharide accumulation increases the biomass and viable S. mutans burden of the cross-kingdom plaque biofilm.
Evidence
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PMID:24566629 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"The presence of C. albicans augments the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), such that cospecies biofilms accrue more biomass and harbor more viable S. mutans cells than single-species biofilms."
Rodent Coinfection Carriage and Caries Outcome
The dual-species rodent infection model showed increased plaque microbial carriage and more severe carious lesions relative to the single-species groups. This is a community-associated host outcome, not itself a directed colonization benefit to S. mutans or proof of the same causal effect in children.
Participating Taxa: Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans
Biological Processes:
- biofilm formation (GO:0042710 · PathwayMech)
Evidence
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PMID:24566629 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Coinfected animals displayed higher levels of infection and microbial carriage within plaque biofilms than animals infected with either species alone."
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PMID:24566629 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Furthermore, coinfection synergistically enhanced biofilm virulence, leading to aggressive onset of the disease with rampant carious lesions."
Knowledge gaps & discussions (1)
KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN How much of the rodent lesion effect is mediated by the measured biofilm changes?
The fresh primary abstract and PubMed figure captions support reciprocal biofilm benefit, EPS-associated accumulation and the rodent coinfection outcome. Those positive observations remain. The EPS assay is in vitro; the rodent disease endpoint is distinct from recipient colonization. The existing disease arrow is retained as PARTIAL mediation. EuropePMC full-text retrieval returned HTTP500, so complete main-text, supplement and figure-pixel review is not claimed. Non-graph evidence labels remain separate follow-up work.
Attaches to: ecological_interactions#Cross-Kingdom Biofilm Enhancement, ecological_interactions#Candida-Driven EPS Amplification of Streptococcus mutans, ecological_interactions#Rodent Coinfection Carriage and Caries Outcome
1 evidence item(s)
Our in vitro data also revealed that glucosyltransferase-derived EPS is a key mediator of cospecies biofilm development
Supports in-vitro mediation of biofilm development, not isolated mediation of the rodent lesion outcome.
Growth Media
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