Correlations of oral bacterial arginine and urea catabolism with caries experience
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Alkali generation by oral bacteria plays a key role in plaque pH homeostasis and may be a major impediment to the development of dental caries. To determine if the capacity of oral samples to produce ammonia from arginine or urea was related to caries experience, the arginine deiminase system (ADS) and urease activity in saliva and dental plaque samples were measured in 45 adult subjects. METHODS: The subjects were divided into three groups according to caries status; 13 caries-free (CF) individuals (decayed, missing, and filled teeth = 0); 21 caries-active (CA) individuals (decayed teeth >or= 4); and 11 caries-experienced (CE) individuals (decayed teeth = 0; missing and filled teeth > 0). Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the proportion of certain acid- or alkali-producing organisms in the samples. RESULTS: The amount of ammonia generated from the test substrates by plaque samples was generally higher than that produced by salivary samples in all groups. Significantly higher levels of salivary ADS activity and plaque urease activity were observed in CF subjects compared to CA subjects (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.014, respectively). The proportions of Streptococcus mutans from saliva and dental plaque of CA subjects were significantly higher than those from the CF group (P = 0.0153 and P = 0.0009, respectively). In the CA group, there was an inverse relationship between urease activity and the levels of S. mutans (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study supports the theory that increased caries risk is associated with reduced alkali-generating capacity of the bacteria colonizing the oral cavity; providing compelling evidence to further our understanding of oral alkali-generation in health and disease.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
This may relate to the paradoxical association between nitrate-reducing oral bacteria and protection from dental caries.
“This may relate to the paradoxical association between nitrate-reducing oral bacteria and protection from dental caries[191,205,232,238,239].”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [238]
Increased production of ammonia via nitrate reduction is a well-known strategy for bacteria to alkalinize their cytoplasm and local environment and protect against the potential toxic effects of high concentrations of nitrate, nitrite and NO.
“Indeed, increased production of the weak base, ammonia via nitrate reduction is a well-known strategy for bacteria to alkalinize their cytoplasm and local environment and protect against the potential toxic effects of high concentrations of nitrate, nitrite and NO[238].”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [238]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Bradford, M. M. (1976) · Analytical Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3 · Cited by 255,302 · see citing works
Microbial ecology of dental plaque and its significance in health and disease
Marsh, P. D. (1994) · Advances in Dental Research · doi:10.1177/08959374940080022001 · Cited by 1,278 · see citing works
Dental plaque as a biofilm and a microbial community—Implications for health and disease
Marsh, P. D. (2006) · BMC Oral Health · doi:10.1186/1472-6831-6-s1-s14 · Cited by 1,094 · see citing works
Bacteria of Dental Caries in Primary and Permanent Teeth in Children and Young Adults
Aas, J. A., Griffen, A. L., Dardis, S. R., Lee, A. M., Olsen, I., Dewhirst, F. E., Leys, E. J., & Paster, B. J. (2008) · Journal of Clinical Microbiology · doi:10.1128/jcm.01410-07 · Cited by 952 · cited 2× · see citing works
“dental health (1, 10, 12, 13, 24); including Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus gordonii.”
BackgroundMolecular Analysis of Bacterial Species Associated with Childhood Caries
Becker, M. R., Paster, B. J., Leys, E. J., Moeschberger, M. L., Kenyon, S. G., Galvin, J. L., Boches, S. K., Dewhirst, F. E., & Griffen, A. L. (2002) · Journal of Clinical Microbiology · doi:10.1128/jcm.40.3.1001-1009.2002 · Cited by 735 · see citing works
Distribution of selected bacterial species on intraoral surfaces
Mager, D. L., Ximenez‐Fyvie, L., Haffajee, A. D., & Socransky, S. S. (2003) · Journal Of Clinical Periodontology · doi:10.1034/j.1600-051x.2003.00376.x · Cited by 481 · see citing works
Intra-Oral Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations Associated With Dental Caries Activity
Stephan, R. M. (1944) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345440230040401 · Cited by 458 · see citing works
Kreth, J., Zhang, Y., & Herzberg, M. C. (2008) · Journal of Bacteriology · doi:10.1128/jb.00276-08 · Cited by 450 · see citing works
Alkali production by oral bacteria and protection against dental caries
Burne, R. A., & Marquis, R. E. (2000) · FEMS Microbiology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09393.x · Cited by 400 · see citing works
Self-citationBacterial ureases in infectious diseases
Burne, R. A., & Chen, Y. M. (2000) · Microbes and Infection · doi:10.1016/s1286-4579(00)00312-9 · Cited by 362 · see citing works
Self-citationChanges in Hydrogen-Ion Concentration on Tooth Surfaces and in Carious Lesions
Stephan, R. M. (1940) · The Journal of the American Dental Association · doi:10.14219/jada.archive.1940.0178 · Cited by 351 · see citing works
Yin, J. L., Shackel, N. A., Zekry, A., McGuinness, P. H., Richards, C., van der Putten, K., McCaughan, G. W., Eris, J., & Bishop, G. A. (2001) · Immunology and Cell Biology · doi:10.1046/j.1440-1711.2001.01002.x · Cited by 301 · see citing works
Casiano-Colón, A. E., & Marquis, R. E. (1988) · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · doi:10.1128/aem.54.6.1318-1324.1988 · Cited by 270 · see citing works
Oral Streptococci... Products of Their Environment
Burne, R. A. (1998) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345980770030301 · Cited by 267 · see citing works
Self-citationPhan, T. ‐., Buckner, T., Sheng, J., Baldeck, J. D., & Marquis, R. E. (2003) · Oral Microbiology and Immunology · doi:10.1046/j.0902-0055.2003.00109.x · Cited by 233 · see citing works
Microbial Risk Indicators of Early Childhood Caries
Corby, P. M. A., Lyons‐Weiler, J., Bretz, W. A., Hart, T. C., A., J., Boumenna, T., Goss, J., Corby, A. L., Henriques, G. M., Weyant, R. J., et al. (2005) · Journal of Clinical Microbiology · doi:10.1128/jcm.43.11.5753-5759.2005 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
Analysis of pH–Driven Disruption of Oral Microbial Communities in vitro
Bradshaw, D. J., & Marsh, P. D. (1998) · Caries Research · doi:10.1159/000016487 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
Responses of Cariogenic Streptococci to Environmental Stresses
Lemos, J. A. C., Abranches, J., & Burne, R. A. (2005) · Current Issues in Molecular Biology · doi:10.21775/cimb.007.095 · Cited by 221 · see citing works
Self-citationArginine deiminase system and bacterial adaptation to acid environments
Marquis, R. E., Bender, G. R., Murray, D. R. P., & Wong, A. (1987) · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · doi:10.1128/aem.53.1.198-200.1987 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
Regulation of arginine-ornithine exchange and the arginine deiminase pathway in Streptococcus lactis
Poolman, B., Driessen, A. J. M., & Konings, W. N. (1987) · Journal of Bacteriology · doi:10.1128/jb.169.12.5597-5604.1987 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Dibdin, G. H., & Shellis, R. P. (1988) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345880670060101 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Salivary Composition and Calculus Formation in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Epstein, S. R., Mandel, I., & Scopp, I. W. (1980) · Journal of Periodontology · doi:10.1902/jop.1980.51.6.336 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Oral health in children with chronic renal failure
Nowaiser, A. A., Roberts, G., Trompeter, R. S., et al. (2003) · Pediatric Nephrology · doi:10.1007/s00467-002-0999-7 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Wang, B.-Y., & Kuramitsu, H. K. (2005) · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · doi:10.1128/aem.71.1.354-362.2005 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Peterson, S., Woodhead, J. C., & Crall, J. J. (1985) · Pediatric Research · doi:10.1203/00006450-198508000-00003 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Genome-wide Scan Finds Suggestive Caries Loci
Vieira, A. R., Marazita, M. L., & Goldstein‐McHenry, T. (2008) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/154405910808700506 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Chen, Y. M., Clancy, K. A., & Burne, R. A. (1996) · Infection and Immunity · doi:10.1128/iai.64.2.585-592.1996 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Predominant Cultivable Flora of Sound and Carious Human Root Surfaces
van Houte, J., Lopman, J., & Kent, R. (1994) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345940730110801 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Ruyven, F. O. J. V., Lingström, P., van Houte, J., & Kent, R. (2000) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345000790021201 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
VanWuyckhuyse, B. C., Perinpanayagam, H., Bevacqua, D., Raubertas, R. E., Billings, R. J., Bowen, W. H., & Tabak, L. A. (1995) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345950740021001 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
The pH of Dental Plaque in its Relation to Early Enamel Caries and Dental Plaque Flora in Humans
Lingström, P., Ruyven, F. O. J. V., van Houte, J., et al. (2000) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345000790021101 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Microbial Ecology of the Oral Cavity
Bowden, G. H., Ellwood, D. C., & Hamilton, I. R. (1979) · Advances in microbial ecology · doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-8279-3_4 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Role of HtrA in Growth and Competence of Streptococcus mutans UA159
Ahn, S., Lemos, J. A. C., & Burne, R. A. (2005) · Journal of Bacteriology · doi:10.1128/jb.187.9.3028-3038.2005 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Self-citationReal-time PCR for quantification ofStreptococcus mutans
Yano, A., Kaneko, N., Ida, H., et al. (2002) · FEMS Microbiology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11451.x · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Effect of urea concentration on human plaque pH levels in situ
Kleinberg, I. (1967) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(67)90183-5 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Composition of Pooled Resting Plaque Fluid from Caries-free and Caries-susceptible Individuals
Margolis, H. C., Duckworth, J. H., & Moreno, E. C. (1988) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345880670120601 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Urea content of gingival crevicular fluid and its relation to periodonal disease in humans
Golub, L. M., Borden, S. M., & Kleinberg, I. (1971) · Journal of Periodontal Research · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0765.1971.tb00615.x · Cited by 91 · see citing works
The Effect of Saliva on Plaque pH in vivo
Abelson, D. C., & Mandel, I. D. (1981) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345810600090101 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Wijeyeweera, R. L., & Kleinberg, I. (1989) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(89)90045-9 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
The Antimony pH Electrode and its Role in the Assessment and Interpretation of Dental Plaque pH
Kleinberg, I., Jenkins, G. N., Chatterjee, R., et al. (1982) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345820610100601 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Beighton, D., Hellyer, P., Lynch, E. J., & Heath, M. (1991) · Community Dentistry And Oral Epidemiology · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0528.1991.tb00172.x · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Quantification of Bacteria in Oral Samples by Competitive Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rupf, S., Merte, K., & Eschrich, K. (1999) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345990780040501 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Dual Functions of Streptococcus salivarius Urease
Chen, Y. M., Weaver, C. A., & Burne, R. A. (2000) · Journal of Bacteriology · doi:10.1128/jb.182.16.4667-4669.2000 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Self-citationMargolis, H. C., Duckworth, J. H., & Moreno, E. C. (1988) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345880670120701 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Ayad, M., Wuyckhuyse, B. C. V., Minaguchi, K., et al. (2000) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345000790041401 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Imfeld, T. N., Birkhed, D., & Lingström, P. (2009) · Caries Research · doi:10.1159/000262065 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Clancy, K. A., Pearson, S. K., Bowen, W. H., et al. (2000) · Infection and Immunity · doi:10.1128/iai.68.5.2621-2629.2000 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
The relationship between dental caries status and dental plaque urease activity
Shu, M., Morou-Bermúdez, E., Suárez-Pérez, E. L., Rivera‐Miranda, C., Browngardt, C. M., Chen, Y. M., Magnusson, I., & Burne, R. A. (2007) · Oral Microbiology and Immunology · doi:10.1111/j.1399-302x.2007.00325.x · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Self-citationKanapka, J. A., & Kleinberg, I. (1983) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(83)90055-9 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Acevedo, A. M., Machado, C., Rivera, L. E., et al. (2005) · PubMed · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Acevedo, A. M., Montero, M., Rojas-Sanchez, F., Machado, C., Rivera, L. E., Wolff, M. S., & Kleinberg, I. (2008) · PubMed · Cited by 61 · see citing works
The bacteria responsible for ureolysis in artificial dental plaque
Sissons, C. H., Hancock, E. M., Perinpanayagam, H., et al. (1988) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(88)90006-4 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Genetic and Physiologic Characterization of Urease of Actinomyces naeslundii
Morou-Bermúdez, E., & Burne, R. A. (1999) · Infection and Immunity · doi:10.1128/iai.67.2.504-512.1999 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Self-citationAcidic Proline-rich Protein Db and Caries in Young Children
Zakhary, G., Clark, R. M., Bidichandani, S. I., Owen, W. L., Slayton, R. L., & Levine, M. (2007) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/154405910708601207 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Dibdin, G. H., & Dawes, C. (1997) · Caries Research · doi:10.1159/000016432 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Sissons, C. H., & Cutress, T. W. (1988) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(88)90133-1 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Turning on and turning off the arginine deiminase system in oral streptococci
Curran, T. M., Ma, Y., Rutherford, G. C., et al. (1998) · Canadian Journal of Microbiology · doi:10.1139/cjm-44-11-1078 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Human parotid saliva urea in renal failure and during dialysis
Shannon, I. L., Feller, R. P., Eknoyan, G., et al. (1977) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(77)90082-6 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
The source of variation in ureolysis in artificial plaques cultured from human salivary bacteria
Sissons, C. H., Hancock, E. M., & Cutress, T. W. (1988) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(88)90005-2 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Salako, N. O., & Kleinberg, I. (1989) · Archives of Oral Biology · doi:10.1016/0003-9969(89)90029-0 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Dawes, C., & Dibdin, G. H. (2001) · Caries Research · doi:10.1159/000047473 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Turtola, L., & LUOMA, H. (1972) · European Journal Of Oral Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0722.1972.tb00299.x · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Turning on and turning off the arginine deiminase system in oral streptococci
Curran, T. M., Ma, Y., Rutherford, G. C., et al. (1998) · Canadian Journal of Microbiology · doi:10.1139/w98-106 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Clancy, A., & Burne, R. A. (2006) · FEMS Microbiology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb12571.x · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Self-citationBarboza‐Silva, E., Castro, A. C. D., & Marquis, R. E. (2005) · Oral Microbiology and Immunology · doi:10.1111/j.1399-302x.2005.00228.x · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Ya-ling, L., Hu, T., Jingyi, Z., et al. (2006) · Microbiological Research · doi:10.1016/j.micres.2005.11.002 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Salivary Protein Polymorphisms in Caries-resistant Adults
Anderson, L. C., & Mandel, I. D. (1982) · Journal of Dental Research · doi:10.1177/00220345820610101101 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Membrane locus and pH sensitivity of paraben inhibition of alkali production by oral streptococci
Ma, Y., Rutherford, G. C., Curran, T. M., et al. (1999) · Oral Microbiology and Immunology · doi:10.1034/j.1399-302x.1999.140408.x · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Kleinberg, I. (1979) · PubMed · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Regulation of urease gene ofActinomyces naeslundiiin biofilms in response to environmental factors
Liu, Y., Hu, T., Jiang, D., et al. (2007) · FEMS Microbiology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00959.x · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Utilization of nitrogenous compounds by oral bacteria
Rogers, A. H. (1990) · Australian Dental Journal · doi:10.1111/j.1834-7819.1990.tb05432.x · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Possibilities for modifying the caries attack by altering the oral microflora.
Gh, B. (1984) · PubMed · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Hu, Y., Ruan, M.-S., & Wang, Q. (1997) · PubMed · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Koch, C. D., Gladwin, M. T., Freeman, B. A., Lundberg, J. O., Weitzberg, E., & Morris, A. (2017) · Free Radical Biology and Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.12.015 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
A Highly Arginolytic Streptococcus Species That Potently Antagonizes Streptococcus mutans
Huang, X., Palmer, S. R., Ahn, S.-J., Richards, V. P., Williams, M. L., Nascimento, M. M., & Burne, R. A. (2016) · Applied and Environmental Microbiology · doi:10.1128/aem.03887-15 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Self-citationEdlund, A., Yang, Y., Yooseph, S., Hall, A. P., Nguyen, D. D., Dorrestein, P. C., Nelson, K. E., He, X., Lux, R., Shi, W., et al. (2015) · The ISME Journal · doi:10.1038/ismej.2015.72 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
- Authors
- Nascimento, M. M., Gordan, V. V., Garvan, C. W., Browngardt, C. M., & Burne, R. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida Health (US)
- University of Florida (US)
- Venue
- Oral Microbiology and Immunology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-02-12
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 89-95
- ISSN
- 0902-0055 (ISSN-L)
- 1399-302X
- PMC
- PMC2742966
- OpenAlex
- W1641045756
- Cited by
- 196
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 8.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Oral Microbiology and Immunology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE 10362, R01DE010362)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Dental Health and Care Utilization
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › General Dentistry › Dental Research and COVID-19
- Keywords
- dental caries, oral bacteria, arginine deiminase system, urease activity, ammonia synthesis, dental plaque, saliva, Streptococcus mutans, caries risk
- MeSH terms
- Actinomyces, Adult, Ammonia, Arginine, Dental Caries, Dental Plaque, Female, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Hydrolases, Hydrolysis, Male, Saliva, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Urea, Urease, Case-Control Studies, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Streptococcus gordonii
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
