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Original Article

Antimicrobial activities of a small molecule compound II-6s against oral streptococci

ORCID Icon, , , , , , & ORCID Icon show all
Article: 1909917 | Received 30 Dec 2020, Accepted 25 Mar 2021, Published online: 30 Mar 2021
 

ABSTRACT

Background: The side effects of present antimicrobials like chlorhexidine (CHX) and the emergence of drug resistance necessitate the development of alternative agents to control dental caries.

Aim: This study developed a novel small molecule, namely II-6s, and investigated its antimicrobial activities against common oral streptococci associated with dental caries.

Methods: The susceptibility of streptococci to II-6s was evaluated by the microdilution method, time-kill assay and scanning electron microscopy. The exopolysaccharides, dead/live bacteria and bacterial composition of the II-6s-treated Streptococcus mutans/Streptococcus gordonii/Streptococcus sanguinis 3-species biofilms were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization and quantitative PCR. The anti-demineralization effect and cytotoxicity of II-6s were evaluated by transverse microradiography and CCK-8 assay, respectively. Repeated exposure of S. mutans to II-6s was performed to assess if II-6s could induce drug resistance.

Results: II-6s exhibited antimicrobial activity similar to CHX against S. mutans, S. gordonii and S. sanguinis and significantly inhibited exopolysaccharides production, live bacteria and the demineralizing capability of the 3-species streptococcal biofilms. Besides, II-6s showed reduced cytotoxicity relative to CHX and did not induce drug resistance in S. mutans after 15 passages.

Conclusion: - II-6s may serve as a promising part of a successful caries management plan.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81771099, 81870754, 81800989).