Alkali production by oral bacteria and protection against dental caries
Abstract
pH is a key environmental factor affecting the physiology, ecology and pathogenicity of the oral biofilms colonizing the hard tissues of the human mouth. Much attention has been focused on the production of organic acids through the metabolism of carbohydrates by pathogenic oral bacteria. Now, evidence is emerging that alkali generation, particularly through ammonia production from arginine and urea, plays major roles in pH homeostasis in oral biofilms and may moderate initiation and progression of dental caries. This short review highlights recent progress on understanding molecular genetic and physiologic aspects of ammonia generation by prominent oral bacteria.
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Some commensal organisms are able to buffer the acid produced by caries-associated bacteria by raising the pH of saliva through the production of alkaline metabolic by-products.
“Some commensal organisms are able to buffer the acid produced by caries‐associated bacteria by raising the pH of saliva through the production of alkaline metabolic by‐products.175”
From The oral microbiome: Role of key organisms and complex networks in oral health and disease (2021) · cites this paper as [175]
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- Authors
- Burne, R. A., & Marquis, R. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Rochester Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Burne, Robert A
- ORCID
- Burne, Robert A
- Venue
- FEMS Microbiology Letters
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2000-12
- Volume
- 193
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-6
- ISSN
- 0378-1097 (ISSN-L)
- 1574-6968
- OpenAlex
- W2156053584
- Cited by
- 400
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 4.11
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- FEMS Microbiology Letters (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE-06127, DE 10362, R01DE006127, R01DE010362)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Dental Health and Care Utilization
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Keywords
- alkali production, ammonia synthesis, oral bacteria, dental caries, dental plaque, pH homeostasis, arginine metabolism, urea metabolism, organic acid production, cariogenic bacteria
- MeSH terms
- Ammonia, Bacteria, Cell Membrane, Dental Caries, Dental Plaque, Enzyme Inhibitors, Fluorides, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Hydrolases, Tooth, Urease, Biofilms
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