Metabolomics reveals high fructose-1,6-bisphosphate from fluoride-resistant Streptococcus mutans

Background Fluoride-resistant Streptococcus mutans ( S. mutans ) strains have developed due to the wide use of fluoride in dental caries prevention.

However, the metabolomics of fluoride-resistant S. mutans remains unclear.

Objective This study aimed to identify metabolites that discriminate fluoride-resistant from wild-type S. mutans .

Materials and methods Cell supernatants from fluoride-resistant and wild-type S. mutans were collected and analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Principal components analysis and partial least-squares discriminant analysis were performed for the statistical analysis by variable influence on projection (VIP > 2.0) and p value (Mann–Whitney test, p  < 0.05).

Metabolites were assessed qualitatively using the Human Metabolome Database version 2.0 ( http://www.hmdb.ca ), or Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes ( http://www.kegg.jp ), and Metaboanalyst 6.0 ( https://www.metaboanalyst.ca ).

Results Fourteen metabolites differed significantly between fluoride-resistant and wild-type strains in the early log phase.

Among these metabolites, 5 were identified.

There were 32 differential metabolites between the two strains in the stationary phase, 13 of which were identified.

The pyrimidine metabolism for S. mutans FR was matched with the metabolic pathway.

Conclusions The fructose-1,6-bisphosphate concentration increased in fluoride-resistant strains under acidic conditions, suggesting enhanced acidogenicity and acid tolerance.

This metabolite may be a promising target for elucidating the cariogenic and fluoride resistant mechanisms of S. mutans .