This technology utilizes the ability of the Bacillus velezensis K68 strain, isolated from traditional fermented foods, to inhibit the biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans, the primary cause of dental caries. It provides pharmaceutical compositions and health functional foods that use this strain or its culture as an active ingredient for preventing tooth decay.
Dental caries is a major oral disease affecting many children and adults. Once Streptococcus mutans forms a biofilm on the surface of tooth enamel, it is notoriously difficult to remove. Existing research has primarily focused on inhibiting bacterial growth using lactic acid bacteria cultures or antibiotics, leaving a gap in materials that specifically target the early stages of biofilm formation.
This technology uses the K68 strain, which produces 1-deoxynojirimycin, and its culture to influence the cell surface hydrophobicity, adhesion, and pathogenic gene expression of S. mutans, thereby inhibiting oral biofilm formation and slowing the progression of early-stage cavities. As a strain derived from fermented food, it can be utilized in pharmaceutical formulations such as tablets and capsules, as well as in health functional foods and as a starter culture for fermented products. It can be applied to oral health pharmaceuticals, anti-cavity functional foods, and probiotic fermented products, serving as a food-derived material that prevents tooth decay at the biofilm stage without relying on antibiotics.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning for the development of high-functional anti-diabetic food materials and fermented foods using microorganisms derived from traditional fermented soybean pastes.
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