In Vivo Colonization with Candidate Oral Probiotics Attenuates Streptococcus mutans Colonization and Virulence

A collection of 113 Streptococcus strains from supragingival dental plaque of caries-free individuals were recently tested in vitro for direct antagonism of the dental caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans and for their capacity for arginine catabolism via the arginine deiminase system (ADS). To advance their evaluation as potential probiotics, 12 strains of commensal oral streptococci with various antagonistic and ADS potentials were assessed in a mouse model for oral (i.e., oral mucosal pellicles and saliva) and dental colonization under four diets (healthy or high-sucrose, with or without prebiotic arginine). Colonization by autochthonous bacteria was also monitored. One strain failed to colonize, whereas oral colonization by the other 11 strains varied by 3 log units. Dental colonization was high for five strains regardless of diet, six strains increased colonization with at least one high-sucrose diet, and added dietary arginine decreased dental colonization of two strains. Streptococcus sp. strain A12 (high in vitro ADS activity and antagonism) and two engineered mutants lacking the ADS (ΔarcADS) or pyruvate oxidase-mediated H(2)O(2) production (ΔspxB) were tested for competition against S. mutans UA159. The A12 wild-type and ΔarcADS strains colonized only transiently, whereas the ΔspxB strain persisted, but without altering oral or dental colonization by S. mutans. In tests of four additional candidates, Streptococcus sanguinis BCC23 markedly attenuated S. mutans oral and dental colonization, enhanced colonization of autochthonous bacteria, and decreased the severity of smooth surface caries under highly cariogenic conditions. Results demonstrate the utility of the mouse model to evaluate potential probiotics, revealing little correlation between in vitro antagonism and competitiveness against S. mutans in vivo. IMPORTANCE Our results demonstrate that in vivo testing of potential oral probiotics can be accomplished and can yield information to facilitate the ultimate design and optimization of novel anticaries probiotics. We show that human oral commensals associated with dental health are an important source of potential probiotics that may be used to colonize patients under dietary conditions of highly various cariogenicity. Assessment of competitiveness against the dental caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans and impact on caries identified strains or genetic elements for further study. Results also uncovered strains that enhanced oral and dental colonization by autochthonous bacteria when challenged with S. mutans, suggesting cooperative interactions for future elucidation. Distinguishing a rare strain that effectively competes with S. mutans under conditions that promote caries further validates our systematic approach to more critically evaluating probiotics for use in humans.