Pantothenate Promotes Oral Microecological Balance By Inhibiting Streptococcus Mutans Competitiveness

Dental caries is a prevalent oral disease that significantly impacts oral health and even general health. According to the ecological plaque hypothesis, cariogenic bacteria, particularly Streptococcus mutans, can gain ecological advantages that disrupt biofilm homeostasis and promote caries development. Pantothenate, a key precursor of coenzyme A (CoA) and acyl carrier protein (ACP), plays an essential role in bacterial metabolism, energy production, and biosynthesis. However, the potential role of pantothenate in S. mutans virulence and dental caries development remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of pantothenate on S. mutans virulence and oral microecological balance. To evaluate the impact of pantothenate on the cariogenic potential of S. mutans, assays were conducted to measure acid production, oxidative stress tolerance, and bacteriocin production following treatment. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to explore the underlying mechanisms and were experimentally validated. A rat caries model was used to assess the in vivo effect of pantothenate on caries development. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing of dental plaque samples was conducted to analyze changes in oral microbiota composition. Pantothenate significantly impaired the interspecies competitiveness of S. mutans by downregulating genes related to acid production, oxidative stress response, and bacteriocin synthesis. In vivo, pantothenate treatment led to a reduction in caries severity in rats and promoted a more balanced oral microbial community. Pantothenate contributes to maintaining oral microecological balance by attenuating the interspecies competitiveness of S. mutans, highlighting its potential as a novel preventive strategy against dental caries.