Copper ions inhibit Streptococcus mutans–Veillonella parvula dual biofilm by activating Streptococcus mutans reactive nitrogen species

BACKGROUND: To investigate the inhibition mechanism of copper ions on Streptococcus mutans–Veillonella parvula dual biofilm. METHODS: S. mutans–V. parvula dual biofilm was constructed and copper ions were added at different concentrations. After the biofilm was collected, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR were then performed to get gene information. RESULTS: The coculture of S. mutans and V. parvula formed a significantly better dual biofilm of larger biomass than S. mutans mono biofilm. And copper ions showed a more significant inhibitory effect on S. mutans–V. parvula dual biofilm than on S. mutans mono biofilm when copper ions concentration reached 100 µM, and copper ions showed a decreased inhibitory effect on S. gordonii–V. parvula dual biofilm and S. sanguis–V.parvula dual biofilm than on the two mono biofilms as the concentration of copper ions increased. And common trace elements such as iron, magnesium, and zinc showed no inhibitory effect difference on S. mutans–V. parvula dual biofilm. The RNA-seq results showed a significant difference in the expression of a new ABC transporter SMU_651c, SMU_652c, SMU_653c, and S. mutans copper chaperone copYAZ. SMU_651c, SMU_652c, and SMU_653c were predicted to function as nitrite/nitrate transporter-related proteins, which suggested the specific inhibition of copper ions on S. mutans–V. parvula dual biofilm may be caused by the activation of S. mutans reactive nitrogen species. CONCLUSIONS: Streptococcus mutans and Veillonella parvula are symbiotic, forming a dual biofilm of larger biomass to better resist the external antibacterial substances, which may increase the virulence of S. mutans. While common trace elements such as iron, magnesium, and zinc showed no specific inhibitory effect on S. mutans–V. parvula dual biofilm, copper ion had a unique inhibitory effect on S. mutans–V. parvula dual biofilm which may be caused by activating S. mutans RNS when copper ions concentration reached 250 µM. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-023-02738-0.