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- Tooth with wisdom: yeast helped to create an innovative remedy for caries
Tooth with wisdom: yeast helped to create an innovative remedy for caries
Young Russian scientists have "trained" a type of Pichia pastoris yeast to synthesize the sweet protein dextranase and based on it have developed a "smart" gel for the prevention of plaque and caries. The new technology allows you to fine—tune the properties of the product for specific dental tasks - to change the viscosity, destroy bacterial biofilms or enhance the antibacterial effect. According to experts, products created using this biotechnology will be in demand as a way to prevent one of the most common diseases in the world. Read more about the innovation in the Izvestia article.
How do special yeasts synthesize sweet protein
Researchers at the University of MISIS have developed a gel based on the enzyme dextranase, which can effectively fight plaque and prevent tooth decay. In the future, the technology will improve the composition of toothpastes, and will also become the basis for new means of preventing dental diseases.
According to the scientists, a specially bred type of yeast Pichia pastoris can synthesize antibodies, enzymes and even sweet proteins thanks to genetic engineering methods. This allows you to purposefully program the properties of the gel and adapt it to solve specific dental problems, for example, to regulate viscosity, destroy biofilms or enhance antibacterial activity.
— There are a number of non—pathogenic microorganisms - bacteria, yeast, and mycelial fungi, which are traditionally used as a platform for obtaining proteins, lipids, and acids needed in biotechnology, the food industry, and medicine. The method of directed biosynthesis using special microorganisms makes it possible to create your own enzymes with specified properties in any quantity," Pavel Volkov, associate professor of the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry at NUST MISIS, told Izvestia.
Dextranase plays a key role in biotechnology to reduce viscosity in the sugar beet and food industries, as well as in oral care products, as they help fight plaque. The enzyme is involved in the development of treatments for diseases related to sugar metabolism and digestive disorders.
Young researchers have designed a new genetic construct, which contains a gene responsible for the production of the necessary enzyme dextranase in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The research team then analyzed the activity of the biocatalyst at various acidity levels and its ability to act on various substrates. These data helped optimize the development for use in the human oral cavity.
"This strain is particularly effective for creating recombinant enzymes, since its use eliminates the need for additional chromatographic purification of proteins — yeast does not synthesize exogenously extraneous proteins and other metabolites," said Yaroslav Gorinov, a student at NUST MISIS, who won 1 million rubles in the Student Startup competition of the University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform, funded by the Foundation for the Promotion of innovation.
How sweet Protein fights tooth decay
The introduction of the directed biosynthesis method in the future will help significantly reduce the cost and simplify the production of enzymes, since it eliminates one of the most expensive stages, while maintaining the high purity of the final product. The approach makes it possible to obtain substances with the necessary properties, including the ability to destroy bacterial films that can lead to caries and other dental diseases.
Yeast systems have long been used as a platform for protein biosynthesis. Therefore, if it is really possible to create dextranase-based oral care products, they can become an effective solution in the prevention of caries, said Sergey Rozhnov, chief physician and founder of the ImplantTime Dental Implantology Center, dental surgeon.
— The enzyme dextranase breaks down polysaccharides, a key component of plaque. Polysaccharides are large carbohydrate molecules that, let's say, ensure that plaque adheres to the enamel. Their accumulations serve as a substrate for bacteria; during metabolism, the microflora secretes acids that provoke caries and inflammatory diseases of the soft tissues of the oral cavity," the doctor explained to Izvestia.
Such an enzyme will naturally reduce the stickiness of plaque, making it easier to remove it from the tooth surface. As a result of regular use, you can expect to reduce the incidence of caries, said Sergey Rozhnov.
Gels, toothpastes, and preparations based on the enzyme dextranase, which destroys polysaccharides in plaque covering teeth, are a very good solution, said Magomed Dakhkilgov, chief physician of the German Implantology Center, orthopedic dentist.
— I believe that such a gel will greatly reduce the adhesion of plaque to the enamel, since due to its stickiness it is firmly fixed to the surface of the tooth, which makes it difficult to clean it. As a result, the use of dextraza—based gels and pastes will reduce the risk of caries, so these products can become very popular in the oral care market as a way to prevent one of the most common diseases in the world," the expert noted.
At the same time, experts emphasize that before such pastes and gels enter the market, they will have to undergo a full cycle of research and mandatory certification.
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