Characterizing the Streptococcus mutans Copper Chaperone

Objectives: Tooth decay is a multifactorial disease, caused by the right combination of sugar intake, poor dental hygiene, and cariogenic bacteria. Streptococcus mutans is the most associated with tooth decay which is attributed to the ability of S. mutans to form a tenacious biofilm and inhibit oral commensal species. Recently, our lab has shown that copper chaperone CopZ is essential to these virulence factors, however, the mechanism is largely unknown.
Methods: Utilized molecular techniques such as cloning, qRT-PCR, isothermal calorimetry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and growth inhibition assays.
Results: We found that compared to the parent strain and the other cop operon mutants, the copZ mutant dramatically secretes a hypothetical protein potentially necessary in S. mutans-mediated infective endocarditis.
Conclusions: The potential interaction between CopZ and this hypothetical protein could reveal a novel receptor for CopZ and pathway for biofilm formation. Identifying a novel regulation pathway for virulence factors in S. mutans will allow us to design targeted therapies in order to prevent dental caries and infective endocarditis.