Abstract

GARCIA TRIANA, Bárbara E.; SALDANA BERNABEU, Alberto  and  BASTERRECHEA MILIAN, Maribel. Extreacellular bacterial glucans: structure, biosynthesis and function. Rev Cubana Estomatol [online]. 2008, vol.45, n.3-4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-297X.

Dental caries is one of the most common diseases in the human being. Certain cariogenic bacteria play an important role in its multifactorial etiology, since in their interaction with the dental surface they promote its demineralization. The production of extracellular bacterial polyssacharides is among the mechanisms mediating bacterial adhesion. The glucans synthesized by glycosyltransferases not only allow the adherence, but they also are a nutritional source for bacteria and that's why the activity of such enzymes is considered a factor of bacterial virulence in dental caries. This bibliographic review is aimed at making clear the aspects related to the structure, biosynthesis and function of glucans and at giving emphasis to the application of this knowledge in the prevention of dental caries.

Keywords : glucans; glycosyltransferases; dextran; mutan; biofilm; dental plaque.