DT News - UK - Researchers discover enzyme that breaks up biofilm in the mouth

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 3 August 2012

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NEWCASTLE, UK: Researchers and dentists from the UK are currently developing a new product from a marine microbe to protect dentures, teeth and gums from bacteria in the mouth. They are using an enzyme isolated from the Bacillus licheniformis bacterium, which has the ability to break up the biofilm that protects bad bacteria in the mouth.

The bacterium is found on the surface of seaweed, and was originally investigated by the researchers for the purpose of cleaning the hulls of ships.

Areas in the mouth that are difficult to reach when brushing teeth enable bacteria in plaque to erode the enamel of teeth, leading to cavities. “Plaque on your teeth is made up of bacteria, which join together to colonise an area in a bid to push out any potential competitors,” explained Dr Nicholas Jakubovics, biochemist at Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences. “Traditional toothpastes work by scrubbing off the plaque containing the bacteria. But that’s not always effective, which is why people who religiously clean their teeth can still develop cavities.”

According to Jakubovics, work in a test tube has demonstrated that the enzyme can cut through the plaque or layer of bacteria, and the researchers wish to harness this power in a paste, mouthwash or denture cleaning solution.

When under threat, bacteria shield themselves in a slimy protective barrier. This slimy layer, known as a biofilm, is made up of bacteria held together by a web of extracellular DNA that adheres the bacteria to each other and to a solid surface. The biofilm—the plaque around the teeth and gums—protects the bacteria from attack by brushing, chemicals or even antibiotics.

In studying B. licheniformis, the scientists, led by marine microbiologist Prof. Grant Burgess, found that when the bacteria want to move on, they release an enzyme that breaks down the external DNA, breaking up the biofilm and releasing the bacteria from the web.

“It’s an amazing phenomenon,” Burgess said. “The enzyme breaks up and removes the bacteria present in plaque and importantly, it can prevent the build-up of plaque too. When I initially began researching how to break down these layers of bacteria, I was interested in how we could keep the hulls of ships clear but we soon realised that the mechanism we had discovered had much wider uses. If we can contain it within a toothpaste we would be creating a product which could prevent tooth decay.”

According to Burgess, this is just one of the uses of the enzyme the researchers are exploring. It has huge potential, for example, in helping keep medical implants clean, such as artificial hips and speech valves, which are also prone to biofilm development.

The team’s next step is to further test and develop the product. They are looking to establish collaboration with industry.

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