Dental caries, the most prevalent oral infectious disease, is closely associated with Streptococcus mutans. This study investigates the antimicrobial properties of the temporin-GHb peptide and its derivatives (GHbR, GHbK, and GHb3K) against S. mutans. These peptides exhibited potent anti-S. mutans activity through a membrane-disruptive mechanism, confirmed by flow cytometry and fluorescence staining assays while showing lower bactericidal effects on beneficial probiotic bacteria. Additionally, they inhibited the biofilm matrix formation by disrupting extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesis, as demonstrated by zymography, qRT-PCR, and sucrose metabolism experiments. In a rat model of S. mutans-induced dental caries, treatment with these peptides significantly reduced the incidence of dental lesions. H&E staining analysis of rat oral tissues confirmed the biosafety of GHb and GHb3K. These findings suggest that temporin-derived peptides effectively target EPS, inhibiting biofilm formation and virulence, offering a promising strategy for preventing dental caries and promoting oral health. The findings suggest potential applications for peptide-based interventions to mitigate biofilm-related issues across various fields, including agriculture, food processing, and healthcare.

中文翻译：

---

Temporin 衍生的肽破坏变形链球菌的胞外多糖基质，预防相关的龋齿


龋齿是最常见的口腔传染病，与变形链球菌密切相关。本研究研究了 temporin-GHb 肽及其衍生物 （GHbR、GHbK 和 GHb3K） 对变异链球菌的抗菌特性。这些肽通过膜破坏机制表现出有效的抗 S 突变活性，通过流式细胞术和荧光染色测定证实，同时对有益益生菌的杀菌作用较低。此外，它们通过破坏细胞外多糖 （EPS） 合成来抑制生物膜基质的形成，如酶谱、qRT-PCR 和蔗糖代谢实验所示。在变形链球菌诱导的龋齿大鼠模型中，用这些肽治疗显着降低了牙齿病变的发生率。大鼠口腔组织的 H&E 染色分析证实了 GHb 和 GHb3K 的生物安全性。这些发现表明，temporin衍生的肽有效地靶向EPS，抑制生物膜的形成和毒力，为预防龋齿和促进口腔健康提供了一种有前途的策略。这些发现表明了基于肽的干预措施的潜在应用，以缓解各个领域的生物膜相关问题，包括农业、食品加工和医疗保健。