Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34916484›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of oral science2021

The vicK gene of Streptococcus mutans mediates its cariogenicity via exopolysaccharides metabolism.

Yalan Deng, Yingming Yang, Bin Zhang, Hong Chen, Yangyu Lu, Shirui Ren, Lei Lei, Tao Hu

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of oral science, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed
3.2field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

23 citing papers in PubMed, 40 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. [The Oral Microbiome: Maintenance of Homeostasis, Disease Associations, and Mechanisms of Pathogenesis].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. [Oral Health Status of Obese Children andIntervention Strategies].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2026
    Article
  5. Buprenorphine enhancesJournal of oral microbiology · 2026
    Article
  6. Effect ofAmerican journal of translational research · 2026
    Article
  7. Overexpression of ASFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Unveiling the complexity of early childhood caries:Journal of oral microbiology · 2024
    Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Postbiotics Derived fromMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Exopolysaccharides metabolism and cariogenesis ofJournal of oral microbiology · 2023
    Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Yalan Deng *State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
Yingming Yang *State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
Bin ZhangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
Hong ChenState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
Yangyu LuState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
Shirui RenState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
Lei LeiState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China. leilei@scu.edu.cn.
Tao HuState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Preventive Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China. hutao@scu.edu.cn.
Sichuan University · CNState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is generally regarded as a major contributor to dental caries because of its ability to synthesize extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) that aid in the formation of plaque biofilm. The VicRKX system of S. mutans plays an important role in biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vicK gene on specific characteristics of EPS in S. mutans biofilm. We constructed single-species biofilms formed by different mutants of vicK gene. Production and distribution of EPS were detected through atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Microcosmic structures of EPS were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cariogenicity of the vicK mutant was assessed in a specific pathogen-free rat model. Transcriptional levels of cariogenicity-associated genes were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that deletion of vicK gene suppressed biofilm formation as well as EPS production, and EPS were synthesized mostly around the cells. Molecular weight and monosaccharide components underwent evident alterations. Biofilms formed in vivo were sparse and contributed a decreased degree of caries. Moreover, expressional levels of genes related to EPS synthesis were down-regulated, except for gtfB. Our report demonstrates that vicK gene enhances biofilm formation and subsequent caries development. And this may due to its regulations on EPS metabolism, like synthesis or microcosmic features of EPS. This study suggests that vicK gene and EPS can be considered as promising targets to modulate dental caries.

Indexed as

Dental CariesDental PlaqueAnimalsBiofilmsRatsStreptococcus mutans

Identifiers

PMID34916484
PMCPMC8677823
OpenAlexW4200103782

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.