Biofilm formation on collagen substrates modulates <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> bacterial extracellular nanovesicle production and cargo

Journal
Nanoscale Advances
ISSN
2516-0230
Date Issued
2025
Author(s)
Camila Leiva-Sabadini
Pablo Berríos
Paula Saavedra
Javiera Carrasco-Rojas
José Vicente González-Aramundiz
Mario Vera
Estefanía Tarifeño-Saldivia
Sebastian Aguayo
Type
journal-article
DOI
URL
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans is the major microbial etiological agent of dental caries and can adhere to surfaces such as type-I collagen, which is present in dentin and periodontal tissues. Recent studies have characterized planktonic S. mutans bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) at the nanoscale range and demonstrated environmental-induced changes due to sugar presence or pH alterations. However, to date, no studies have explored whether surface-derived changes can modulate bEV production in the context of oral biofilm formation in the elderly. Therefore, this work aimed to determine the role of biofilm formation and collagen glycation on the nanoscale morphology and proteomic composition of S. mutans bEVs. For this, bEVs from S. mutans biofilms on native and glycated collagen surfaces were isolated, characterized, and compared to bEVs from planktonic cells. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and electron microscopy confirmed bEV production and showed that bEVs from biofilms are smaller in size and less abundant than those from planktonic cells. Furthermore, proteome analysis revealed that S. mutans biofilm formation on native and glycated collagen led to the enrichment of several key virulence proteins. Also, a shift towards proteins involved in metabolic processes was found in bEVs following biofilm formation on collagen surfaces, whereas glucan metabolism proteins were overexpressed in vesicles from the planktonic state. These results demonstrate that biofilm formation, as well as the glycation of collagen associated with aging and hyperglycaemia, can modulate bEV characteristics and cargo and could play a central role in S. mutans virulence and the development of diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease.
Cite this document
Leiva-Sabadini, C., Berríos, P., Saavedra, P., Carrasco-Rojas, J., González-Aramundiz, J. V., Vera, M., Tarifeño-Saldivia, E., Schuh, C. M. A. P., & Aguayo, S. (2025). Biofilm formation on collagen substrates modulates Streptococcus mutans bacterial extracellular nanovesicle production and cargo. Nanoscale Advances, 7(18), 5670-5680. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00248F
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