Streptococcus mutans is the primary etiological factor responsible for dental caries, the leading childhood disease in the United States. The myxobacterial natural product, carolacton, exhibits biofilm specific activity against S. mutans at low nanomolar concentrations. Our group has contributed to the study of carolacton by publishing a total synthesis in 2014, and disclosing a 1st generation library wherein the aryl ring replaced the tri-substitued alkene in the sidechain. Recent work has lead to the discovery an oversaturated and simplified carolacton-inspired structure that specifically inhibits S. mutans growth (Biofilm IC50 44 mM). We have determined that a decrease in acid stress tolerance is the main factor in S. mutans inhibition and early findings lead to the assumption that carbon catabolite regulator Ccpa is responsible for some facet of the activity. Mechanism of action and biological target of the new oversaturated analog and the natural product carolacton are of current interest.

Oversaturation of the Carolacton scaffold leads to improved inhibition of Streptococcus mutans growth during biofilm growth

2019 Spring National Meeting

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