Effects of Ag/ZnO nanocomposite at sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations on virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans.

• Ag/ZnO inhibits the biofilm formation of S. mutans. • Ag/ZnO at sub-MICs inhibits multiple virulence factors. • Ag/ZnO affects virulence factors of S. mutans at transcriptional levels. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), the main pathogen of dental caries, could be well killed by Ag/ZnO nanocomposite. However, effects on virulence factors remain to be elucidated. This study investigated effects of Ag/ZnO at sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) on virulence factors of S. mutans and related genes expressions. Effects of Ag/ZnO on the growth of S. mutans was investigated by growth curves and MTT staining method. The influence of Ag/ZnO at sub-MICs on biofilm formation was measured by the crystal violet staining method and observed by a scanning electron microscopy. Adherence, cell-surface hydrophobicity, acidogenicity and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) of S. mutans after treatment by Ag/ZnO at sub-MICs were also investigated. Virulence factors related genes expressions after treated by Ag/ZnO at 1/2 MIC was conducted by the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method. Sub-MICs of Ag/ZnO exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition on the virulence factors of S. mutans. Specially, Ag/ZnO at 1/2 MIC decreased 69.00 % biofilm formation, 31.78 % sucrose-independent and 48.08 % sucrose-dependent adherence, 69.44 % cell-surface hydrophobicity and 72.45 % water-soluble and 90.60 % water-insoluble EPS. Furthermore, the expression of virulence factors related genes was significantly suppressed by Ag/ZnO at 1/2 MIC. Ag/ZnO at sub-MICs inhibited multiple virulence factors of S. mutans through downregulating the related genes. Ag/ZnO nanocomposite could be used for prevention of dental caries at low dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]