# Formation of Streptococcus mutans Polymicrobial Biofilms in the Presence of Lactobacillus plantarum and Candida albicans

## TL;DR

This study examines how Lactobacillus plantarum and Candida albicans affect Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation, which is linked to tooth decay.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how different microbes influence S. mutans biofilm formation and metabolic activity.

## Key findings

- L. plantarum reduced S. mutans biofilm formation by 9.5%.
- C. albicans increased S. mutans biofilm formation by 28.8%.
- Both microbes increased S. mutans metabolic activity by around 20%.

## Abstract

Dental caries is an infectious disease that develops through biofilm.
Streptococcus mutans
is a cariogenic bacterium that can be found in dental plaque.
Streptococcus mutans
regulates biofilm formation and communicate with other microbes through a process called quorum sensing. Dental caries prevention can be achieved by inhibiting quorum sensing. This study aimed to investigate the ability of
Lactobacillus plantarum
and
Candida albicans
to inhibit the formation of
S. mutans
polymicrobial biofilms
.

This study aims to investigate the ability of biofilm formation analyzed through the crystal violet (CV) assay and bacterial metabolic activity analyzed through the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The bacteria used are
S. mutans
(serotype C),
L. plantarum
(FNCC 0020), and
C. albicans
.

CV assay results show that in the presence of
L. plantarum
, biofilm formation in
S. mutans
decreases (9.5%). Meanwhile, the formation of
S. mutans
biofilms increased with the presence of
C. albicans
(28.8%). MTT assay results showed an increase in the metabolic activity of
S. mutans
in the presence of
L. plantarum
(20.2%) and
C. albicans
(19.4%).

Lactobacillus plantarum
can inhibit the formation of
S. mutans
biofilms, while
C. albicans
can increase
S. mutans
biofilms.