A Novel Small Molecule, 1,3-di-m-tolyl-urea, Inhibits and Disrupts Multispecies Oral Biofilms

Shanthini Kalimuthu; Becky P.K Cheung; Joyce Y.Y Yau; Karthi Shanmugam; Adline Princy Solomon; Prasanna Neelakantan

doi:10.20944/preprints202008.0259.v1

Submitted:

09 August 2020

Posted:

11 August 2020

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A Novel Small Molecule, 1,3-di-m-tolyl-urea, Inhibits and Disrupts Multispecies Oral Biofilms

Shanthini Kalimuthu,Becky P.K Cheung,Joyce Y.Y Yau,Karthi Shanmugam,Adline Princy Solomon^*

,Prasanna Neelakantan^*

Shanthini Kalimuthu,Becky P.K Cheung,Joyce Y.Y Yau,Karthi Shanmugam,Adline Princy Solomon^*

,Prasanna Neelakantan^*

A peer-reviewed version of this preprint was published in:

Microorganisms 2020, 8(9), 1261. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091261

Submitted:

09 August 2020

Posted:

11 August 2020

You are already at the latest version

Abstract

Imbalance of homeostasis between the microbial communities and the host system leads to dysbiosis in oral micro flora. DMTU (1,3-di-m-tolyl-urea), is a biocompatible compound that was shown to inhibit Streptococcus mutansbiofilms by inhibiting its communication system (quorum sensing). Here, we hypothesized that DMTU is able to inhibit multispecies biofilms. We developed a multispecies oral biofilm model comprising an early colonizer Streptococcus gordonii, a bridge colonizer Fusobacterium nucleatum, and late colonizers Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. We performed comprehensive investigations to demonstrate the effect of DMTU on planktonic cells and biofilms. Our findings showed that DMTU inhibits and disrupts multispecies biofilms without bactericidal effects. Mechanistic studies revealed significant down regulation of biofilm and virulence related genes in P. gingivalis. Taken together, our study highlights the potential of DMTU to inhibit polymicrobial biofilm communities and their virulence.

Keywords:

DMTU

;

Multispecies biofilms

;

Porphyromonas gingivalis

;

Quorum sensing

Subject:

Medicine and Pharmacology - Dentistry and Oral Surgery

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