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Streptococcus mutans - Candida albicans ECC Biofilm Model

Community ID CommunityMech:000083
Ecological State ENGINEERED
Environment cariogenic plaque biofilm on tooth surface
ENVO:01001034

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 N/A
  • PMID:24566629 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)
    "Streptococcus mutans is often cited as the main bacterial pathogen in dental caries, particularly in early-childhood caries (ECC)."
Candida albicans NCBITaxon:5476 N/A
  • PMID:24566629 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)
    "Candida albicans cells are frequently detected along with heavy infection by S. mutans in plaque biofilms from ECC-affected children."

Ecological Interactions

Ecological interaction network for Streptococcus mutans - Candida albicans ECC Biofilm Model Bipartite graph where circle nodes represent taxa and colored rectangles represent ecological interactions (cross-feeding, mutualism, syntrophy, competition, commensalism).
Taxon
Cross-feeding
Mutualism
Syntrophy
Competition
Commensalism
Niche partitioning
Colonization facilitation
Strain competition
Predation

Cross-Kingdom Biofilm Enhancement

MUTUALISM

Source Taxon: Streptococcus mutans

Target Taxon: Candida albicans

Evidence

  • 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_FACILITATION

Source Taxon: Candida albicans

Target Taxon: Streptococcus mutans

Evidence

  • PMID:24566629 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)
    "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."

Synergistic Caries Virulence

COLONIZATION_FACILITATION

Source Taxon: Candida albicans

Target Taxon: Streptococcus mutans

Evidence

  • 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."
  • PMID:24566629 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)
    "Furthermore, coinfection synergistically enhanced biofilm virulence, leading to aggressive onset of the disease with rampant carious lesions."