A defined dual-species oral biofilm model for adult severe caries pairing Streptococcus mutans with the ASC-associated pathobiont Veillonella parvula. The coculture increases mature biofilm formation, acid resistance, oxidative stress tolerance, and rodent caries severity relative to Streptococcus mutans alone.
Taxonomy
| Taxon | Ontology ID | Functional Roles | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streptococcus mutans | NCBITaxon:1309 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Veillonella parvula | NCBITaxon:29466 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | DOMINANT | |
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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.
Veillonella-Associated gtf Expression and Mixed-Biofilm EPS
The primary in-vitro comparison reports increased S. mutans gtf transcript levels and a higher EPS-to-bacteria fluorescence ratio in the mixed biofilm. These observations do not independently measure catalytic enzyme activity, species-resolved cell numbers or the necessity of this expression change for the other phenotypes.
Source Taxon: Veillonella parvula
Target Taxon: Streptococcus mutans
Metabolites: sucrose (CHEBI:17992 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech), exopolysaccharide (CHEBI:72813 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech)
Biological Processes:
- biofilm formation (GO:0042710 · PathwayMech)
PARTIAL: increased EPS is proposed to contribute to the observed mixed-biofilm phenotype. The expression and imaging comparisons do not independently isolate the expression-to-phenotype mediator or establish its contribution to the separate stress-response assays.
Evidence
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PMID:39345197 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"gtfb, gtfc, and gtfd in dual-strains biofilm dramatically increased"
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PMID:39345197 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"increased the EPS/bacteria ratio"
Mixed-Biofilm and Stress-Response Phenotypes
The in-vitro study reports denser mixed biofilms and improved S. mutans survival in separate stress-response assays. These positive observations remain, while mixed-community biomass and fluorescence do not separately resolve the abundance of each species. The composite phenotype is not itself a directed colonization measurement.
Participating Taxa: Streptococcus mutans, Veillonella parvula
Biological Processes:
- biofilm formation (GO:0042710 · PathwayMech)
PARTIAL: the in-vitro phenotypes are proposed contributors to the greater rodent disease outcome. The coinfection experiment supports the overall disease effect, but does not independently identify which phenotype mediates it or prove a causal effect in adults.
Evidence
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PMID:39345197 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"In vitro experiments found that V. parvula can effectively promote S. mutans mature biofilm formation with enhanced acid resistance, hydrogen peroxide detoxicity, and biofilm virulence."
Rodent Coinfection Caries Outcome
The dual-species rodent group had greater caries progression and severity than single-species groups, while V. parvula alone did not differ significantly from the control. This is a rodent community-associated disease outcome. The separate adult plaque association does not establish the same causal effect in human adult severe caries.
Participating Taxa: Streptococcus mutans, Veillonella parvula
Biological Processes:
- biofilm formation (GO:0042710 · PathwayMech)
Evidence
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PMID:39345197 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Rodent model experiments revealed that V. parvula was incapable of causing disease on its own, but it significantly heightened the biofilm virulence of S. mutans when being co-infected and augmented the progression, quantity, and severity of dental caries."
Knowledge gaps & discussions (1)
KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN Which measured in-vitro phenotype mediates the rodent disease effect?
Results and discussion distinguish transcript abundance, mixed-biofilm imaging, stress-response assays and the rodent endpoint. A results heading says activity, but the accompanying measurements do not independently quantify enzyme catalysis. Positive findings remain with both existing directions explicitly PARTIAL. Mixed fluorescence is not species-resolved abundance, and the small human comparison is observational. No new molecular mechanism, pathogen-enhancement design or wet-lab instruction is added.
Attaches to: ecological_interactions#Veillonella-Associated gtf Expression and Mixed-Biofilm EPS, ecological_interactions#Mixed-Biofilm and Stress-Response Phenotypes, ecological_interactions#Rodent Coinfection Caries Outcome
1 evidence item(s)
the specific mechanism of its influence on oral diseases at the molecular level still need further studies
The primary discussion leaves molecular mediation unresolved.
Growth Media
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