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. 2021 Apr 20;13(1):1910462.
doi: 10.1080/20002297.2021.1910462.

Potential prebiotic substrates modulate composition, metabolism, virulence and inflammatory potential of an in vitro multi-species oral biofilm

Tim Verspecht  1   2 , Wannes Van Holm  1   2 , Nico Boon  2 , Kristel Bernaerts  3 , Carlo A Daep  4 , James G Masters  4 , Naiera Zayed  1   2   5 , Marc Quirynen  1   6 , Wim Teughels  1   6
Affiliations

Potential prebiotic substrates modulate composition, metabolism, virulence and inflammatory potential of an in vitro multi-species oral biofilm

Tim Verspecht et al. J Oral Microbiol. .

Abstract

Background: Modulation of the commensal oral microbiota constitutes a promising preventive/therapeutic approach in oral healthcare. The use of prebiotics for maintaining/restoring the health-associated homeostasis of the oral microbiota has become an important research topic. Aims: This study hypothesised that in vitro 14-species oral biofilms can be modulated by (in)direct stimulation of beneficial/commensal bacteria with new potential prebiotic substrates tested at 1 M and 1%(w/v), resulting in more host-compatible biofilms with fewer pathogens, decreased virulence and less inflammatory potential. Methods: Established biofilms were repeatedly rinsed with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, α-D-lactose, D-(+)-trehalose or D-(+)-raffinose at 1 M or 1%(w/v). Biofilm composition, metabolic profile, virulence and inflammatory potential were eventually determined. Results: Repeated rinsing caused a shift towards a more health-associated microbiological composition, an altered metabolic profile, often downregulated virulence gene expression and decreased the inflammatory potential on oral keratinocytes. At 1 M, the substrates had pronounced effects on all biofilm aspects, whereas at 1%(w/v) they had a pronounced effect on virulence gene expression and a limited effect on inflammatory potential. Conclusion: Overall, this study identified four new potential prebiotic substrates that exhibit different modulatory effects at two different concentrations that cause in vitro multi-species oral biofilms to become more host-compatible.

Keywords: Prebiotics; multi-species oral biofilm; oral biofilm composition; oral biofilm inflammatory potential; oral biofilm metabolism; oral biofilm virulence; oral health; prebiotic substrates.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors W.T, T.V, K.B., M.Q. (in the name of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), N.B. (in the name of Universiteit Gent), C.D and J.M. (in the name of Colgate-Palmolive Company) are listed as inventors on a patent application filed by Colgate-Palmolive Company, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Universiteit Gent related to specific aspects of this manuscript. Dr. Daep and Dr. Masters are employed by Colgate-Palmolive, which partially sponsored this study. All other authors report no conflicts of interest related to this study.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Effects of repeated rinsing with potential prebiotic substrates at 1 M on multi-species biofilm composition
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Effects of repeated rinsing with potential prebiotic substrates at 1%(w/v) on multi-species biofilm composition
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Effects of repeated rinsing with potential prebiotic substrates on multi-species biofilm organic acid balances
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Effects of repeated rinsing with potential prebiotic substrates on multi-species biofilm inflammatory potential
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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