Novel lactotransferrin-derived synthetic peptides suppress cariogenic bacteria in vitro and arrest dental caries in vivo: [Novel lactotransferrin-derived anticaries peptides]. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Junyuan; Feng, Zening; Jiang, Wentao; Jiang, Xuelian; Chen, Yue; Lv, Xiaohui; Zhang, Linglin
• Is Part Of: Journal of oral microbiology. Volume 13:Issue 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Antimicrobial peptide -- biofilm -- dental caries -- lactotransferrin -- rat -- Streptococcus mutans; Mouth -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Mouth Diseases -- microbiology; Mouth -- microbiology; Medical microbiology; Mouth -- Microbiology; Oral Pathology; Microbiology; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.31
• DOI: 10.1080/20002297.2021.1943999
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-2297

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives : The aim of the study was to design and synthesise novel lactotransferrin-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with enhanced antibacterial activity against cariogenic bacteria. Methods : We obtained the LF-1 (WKLLRKAWKLLRKA) and LF-2 (GKLIWKLLRKAWKLLRKA) AMPs, based on the N-terminal functional sequence of lactotransferrin, and characterised their physicochemical properties and secondary structure. Their antibacterial activity against caries-associated bacteria was evaluated using bacterial susceptibility and time-killing assays, as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antibiofilm activity against Streptococcus mutans biofilms was determined using biofilm susceptibility assays and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). A rodent model of dental caries was adopted to evaluate their anticaries effectiveness in vivo . Results : Both peptides possessed an α-helical structure with excellent amphipathicity. LF-1 was effective against S. mutans and Actinomyces species, whereas LF-2 showed more potent antibacterial activity than LF-1 against a broader spectrum of tested strains. Both peptides inhibited the formation of S. mutans biofilm starting at 8 μmol/L and exerted effective eradication of S. mutans in preformed biofilms. Both peptides exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility and exerted significant anticaries effects in a rodent model. Conclusion s: Both lactotransferrin-derived peptides displayed strong antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria and S. mutans biofilm in vitro and effectively inhibited dental caries in vivo .