Characterizing exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis pathways in oral biofilm

National Institute Of Dental & Craniofacial Research

Investigators

Abstract

Oral biofilm is comprised of rich and diverse microbial communities consisting of over 700 distinct species. An imbalance in the composition of the community is associated with common oral diseases such as periodontitis and is linked to systemic disease such as colorectal cancer. Biofilm microorganisms tend to be highly resistant to antibiotics compared to planktonic ones, therefore finding new and more effective ways to control biofilm formation is critical in preventing disease. We are identifying and characterizing the O-glycosylation machinery responsible for exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis in the oral biofilm matrix. By understanding the machinery responsible for EPS biosynthesis in oral biofilm, we can find ways to inhibit matrix formation linked to oral microbiome dysbiosis. We are using a variety of bioinformatics tools to search genomes of oral bacteria for operons that code for putative O-glycosyltransferases that are possibly involved in EPS biosynthesis. We aim to characterize the enzymes identified using a combination of biochemical, structural, genetic, and microbiological methods to: 1) understand their role in EPS biosynthesis, 2) characterize the EPS that is formed, and 3) assess the role of EPS in antibiotic resistance.