{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T14:44:54Z","timestamp":1792161894047,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790899200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Oral Health"],"abstract":"\n Objectives<\/jats:title>\n \n This study investigated the effects of a nanocomposite comprising\n N-acyl<\/jats:italic>\n -homoserine lactonase Est816 and silver nanoparticles (Ag-Est816) on the microbial community of an enriched\n in vitro<\/jats:italic>\n biofilm model derived from supragingival plaque of children with early childhood caries (ECC).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Materials and methods<\/jats:title>\n \n Supragingival plaque samples were collected from 30 children aged younger than 6 years (15 males and 15 females) diagnosed with ECC. These samples were cultured\n in vitro<\/jats:italic>\n to form biofilms, which were then treated with or without the Ag-Est816 composite for two days. The composition of the biofilms was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing to assess changes in\n \u03b1<\/jats:italic>\n - and\n \u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n -diversity, taxonomic composition, and predicted microbial functions. Biofilm morphology and biomass were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and crystal violet assays.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n The Ag-Est816 composite significantly reduced microbial\n \u03b1<\/jats:italic>\n -diversity, including species richness and phylogenetic diversity (Chao1, Observed species, Faith's PD,\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u2009&lt;\u20090.05). It also significantly altered overall bacterial community composition, as demonstrated by principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and paired permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), although the effect size was modest (\n R<\/jats:italic>\n 2<\/jats:sup>\n \u2009=\u20090.0286,\n P<\/jats:italic>\n \u2009=\u20090.002). At the genus level, the abundances of\n Actinomyces<\/jats:italic>\n ,\n Lactobacillus<\/jats:italic>\n , and\n Moryella<\/jats:italic>\n were markedly decreased, whereas\n Haemophilus<\/jats:italic>\n and\n Granulicatella<\/jats:italic>\n were enriched. LEfSe analysis revealed\n Actinomyces<\/jats:italic>\n and\n Lactobacillus<\/jats:italic>\n as characteristic taxa enriched in the Control group, while\n Enterococcus<\/jats:italic>\n and\n Granulicatella<\/jats:italic>\n were significantly enriched following treatment. Functional prediction revealed that Ag-Est816 influenced pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, nucleotide metabolism, and nucleotide sugar biosynthesis. SEM imaging and biomass quantification confirmed that the Ag-Est816 composite disrupted biofilm architecture and significantly reduced total biomass.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n The Ag-Est816 composite suppressed several low-abundance cariogenic genera while reducing overall community richness, altered microbial metabolic functions, and compromised biofilm structural integrity. These findings indicated this non-invasive nanocomposite has potential as an adjunctive therapy for caries prevention in children.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/froh.2026.1779148","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T04:36:54Z","timestamp":1790915814000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["N-acyl-homoserine lactonase\u2013nanosilver composite modulates the bacterial community of an in vitro enriched biofilm model of early childhood caries"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Chuang","family":"Nie","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University","place":["Hefei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ran","family":"Xia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University","place":["Hefei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liqiong","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University","place":["Hefei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Song","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Anhui Medical University","place":["Hefei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jing","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong","place":["Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"380","DOI":"10.1177\/0022034517693566","article-title":"Global, regional, and national prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years for oral conditions for 195 countries, 1990\u20132015: a systematic analysis for the global burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors","volume":"96","author":"Kassebaum","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Dent Res"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1038\/s41368-018-0012-3","article-title":"Common dental diseases in children and malocclusion","volume":"10","author":"Zou","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J Oral Sci"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"433","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2020.00433","article-title":"Novel biogenic silver nanoparticle-induced reactive oxygen species inhibit the biofilm formation and virulence activities of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus","volume":"8","author":"Hamida","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Bioeng Biotechnol"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3551","DOI":"10.2147\/IJN.S246484","article-title":"Synergistic ROS-associated antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles and gentamicin against Staphylococcus epidermidis","volume":"15","author":"Mazur","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Nanomedicine"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"492","DOI":"10.17179\/excli2020-1244","article-title":"Silver nanoparticles restrict microbial growth by promoting oxidative stress and DNA damage","volume":"19","author":"Adeyemi","year":"2020","journal-title":"EXCLI J"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"290","DOI":"10.3390\/nu2030290","article-title":"Streptococcus mutans, caries and simulation models","volume":"2","author":"Forssten","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S13","DOI":"10.5005\/jp-journals-10005-2575","article-title":"A comparison of antimicrobial efficacy of silver-based preventive restorations (silver nitrate, silver diamine fluoride, and silver nanoparticles) against Streptococcus mutans monospecies biofilm model","volume":"16","author":"Sharma","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Clin Pediatr Dent"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.5005\/jp-journals-10005-1920","article-title":"Nano-silver fluoride at higher concentration for caries arrest in primary molars: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"14","author":"Arnaud","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Clin Pediatr Dent"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3261","DOI":"10.5012\/bkcs.2013.34.11.3261","article-title":"Antibacterial activity of CNT-Ag and GO-Ag nanocomposites against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria","volume":"34","author":"Yun","year":"2013","journal-title":"Bull Korean Chem Soc"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e241","DOI":"10.4317\/jced.59224","article-title":"Effect of an orthodontic resin modified with silver nanoparticles on enamel color change","volume":"14","author":"S\u00e1nchez-Tito","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Clin Exp Dent"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"545","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-022-02542-2","article-title":"Investigating the residual effect of silver nanoparticles gel as an intracanal medicament on dental pulp stromal cells","volume":"22","author":"Mahmoud","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jobcr.2021.04.002","article-title":"Impact of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles cytotoxicity on dental pulp of albino rats","volume":"11","author":"Youssef","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Oral Biol Craniofac Res"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"576","DOI":"10.1038\/nrmicro.2016.89","article-title":"Quorum sensing signal-response systems in gram-negative bacteria","volume":"14","author":"Papenfort","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nat Rev Microbiol"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e01050-24","DOI":"10.1128\/msphere.01050-24","article-title":"Quorum sensing modulates microbial community structure through regulation of secondary metabolites","volume":"10","author":"Armes","year":"2025","journal-title":"mSphere"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9800","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-66704-4","article-title":"Acyl homoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing in the oral cavity: a paradigm revisited","volume":"10","author":"Muras","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1178","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-025-06563-5","article-title":"Quorum quenching by Est816: a novel approach to control porphyromonas gingivalis pathogenicity","volume":"25","author":"Zhao","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109481","DOI":"10.1016\/j.identj.2026.109481","article-title":"Developing a silver nanocomposite with quorum-quenching enzyme Ag-Est816 to prevent periodontitis","volume":"76","author":"Zhao","year":"2026","journal-title":"Int Dent J"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19013","DOI":"10.1021\/acsnano.2c07930","article-title":"Cooperative antibacterial enzyme-Ag-polymer nanocomposites","volume":"16","author":"Xiong","year":"2022","journal-title":"ACS Nano"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1038\/s41579-019-0186-5","article-title":"Bacterial quorum sensing in complex and dynamically changing environments","volume":"17","author":"Mukherjee","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat Rev Microbiol"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2208901","DOI":"10.1080\/20002297.2023.2208901","article-title":"Gram-negative quorum sensing signalling enhances biofilm formation and virulence traits in gram-positive pathogen Enterococcus faecalis","volume":"15","author":"Parga","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Oral Microbiol"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.3967\/bes2024.186","article-title":"Investigation of associated factors and microbiota of different oral niches in early childhood caries","volume":"38","author":"Tang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Biomed Environ Sci"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms12010121","article-title":"The evolving microbiome of dental caries","volume":"12","author":"Spatafora","year":"2024","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.1159\/000163020","article-title":"Acid production from sugars and sugar alcohols by probiotic lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in vitro","volume":"42","author":"Haukioja","year":"2008","journal-title":"Caries Res"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1038\/s41522-025-00846-z","article-title":"N-acyl homoserine lactone signaling modulates bacterial community associated with human dental plaque","volume":"11","author":"Sikdar","year":"2025","journal-title":"NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1186\/s40168-018-0591-4","article-title":"Uncovering complex microbiome activities via metatranscriptomics during 24\u2005h of oral biofilm assembly and maturation","volume":"6","author":"Edlund","year":"2018","journal-title":"Microbiome"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7193","DOI":"10.1128\/JB.187.21.7193-7203.2005","article-title":"Competition and coexistence between Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis in the dental biofilm","volume":"187","author":"Kreth","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Bacteriol"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2326","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.02090-09","article-title":"Real-time microsensor measurement of local metabolic activities in ex vivo dental biofilms exposed to sucrose and treated with chlorhexidine","volume":"76","author":"Von Ohle","year":"2010","journal-title":"Appl Environ Microbiol"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"774","DOI":"10.1038\/s41579-021-00583-y","article-title":"When anaerobes encounter oxygen: mechanisms of oxygen toxicity, tolerance and defence","volume":"19","author":"Lu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nat Rev Microbiol"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0145623","DOI":"10.1128\/aac.01456-23","article-title":"Altered serine metabolism promotes drug tolerance in mycobacterium abscessus via a WhiB7-mediated adaptive stress response","volume":"68","author":"Bernard","year":"2024","journal-title":"Antimicrob Agents Chemother"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"138876","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2023.138876","article-title":"Bacterial extracellular polymeric substances: biosynthesis and interaction with environmental pollutants","volume":"332","author":"Vandana","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2015166","DOI":"10.1080\/20002297.2021.2015166","article-title":"Arginine-induced metabolomic perturbation in streptococcus mutans","volume":"14","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Oral Microbiol"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6398165","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/6398165","article-title":"Effect of silver nanoparticles on biofilm formation and EPS production of multidrug-resistant klebsiella pneumoniae","volume":"2020","author":"Siddique","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biomed Res Int"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9257","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23169257","article-title":"Antibiofilm effect of silver nanoparticles on biofilm-related gene expression of Staphylococcus epidermidis","volume":"23","author":"Swolana","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms11020369","article-title":"Silver nanoparticles: bactericidal and mechanistic approach against drug resistant pathogens","volume":"11","author":"More","year":"2023","journal-title":"Microorganisms"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"372","DOI":"10.3390\/dj13080372","article-title":"Quorum-quenching AHL lactonase Est816 inhibits polymicrobial subgingival plaque-derived biofilm formation","volume":"13","author":"Zhao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Dent J (Basel)"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1118630","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2023.1118630","article-title":"The quorum quenching enzyme Aii20J modifies in vitro periodontal biofilm formation","volume":"13","author":"Parga","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Cell Infect Microbiol"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Oral Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/froh.2026.1779148\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T13:52:35Z","timestamp":1792158755000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/froh.2026.1779148\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]]},"references-count":36,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/froh.2026.1779148"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/froh.2026.1779148","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-4842"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-4842","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]]},"article-number":"1779148"}}