دانشگاه اصفهان زیست شناسی میکروبی 3060-7647 14 55 2025 11 22 Evaluating the impact of Leech Saliva on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus Evaluating the impact of Leech Saliva on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus 57 72 29708 10.22108/bjm.2025.144481.1625 FA Zahra Ghafoorzadeh Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. Hassan Mohabatkar Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. Mandana Behbahani Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. 0000-0003-3240-2672 Zohreh Harsij Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. Journal Article 2025 03 02 Leech saliva, containing over 100 biologically active proteins, includes the antimicrobial protein destabilase. Functioning in a manner similar lysozyme, destabilase degrades bacterial cell walls. Tooth decay, caused by Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus, necessitates their elimination for prevention and treatment. The effect of leech saliva from different groups on S. mutans and S. sobrinus was investigated. Saliva samples were collected from three leech groups salivated at one, two and three months after feeding. Additionally, the antibacterial properties of destabilase were investigated through bioinformatics and molecular docking. Our study revealed an increase in salivary protein concentration with the duration of starvation, reaching 769 μg/ml after three months. Among the various samples, the saliva concentration of leeches that had undergone three months of starvation exhibited the most potent antibacterial properties. Specifically, it exhibited an antibacterial percentage of 35.3% against S. mutans and 42.6% against S. sobrinus at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. The concentration of 2 mg/ml in the three-month saliva sample also exhibited the highest anti-biofilm percentage against both bacteria, with values of 31.6% for S. mutans and 44.2% for S. sobrinus. Given the global challenge of tooth decay, leech saliva especially destabilase, shows potential for preventing and treating this common dental condition. A significant concentration of destabilase, an antimicrobial protein present in the saliva of leeches, was identified. Also, a novel strategy was proposed to inhibit the formation of biofilms on S. mutans and S. sobrinus, which are commonly associated with tooth decay. Leech saliva, containing over 100 biologically active proteins, includes the antimicrobial protein destabilase. Functioning in a manner similar lysozyme, destabilase degrades bacterial cell walls. Tooth decay, caused by Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus, necessitates their elimination for prevention and treatment. The effect of leech saliva from different groups on S. mutans and S. sobrinus was investigated. Saliva samples were collected from three leech groups salivated at one, two and three months after feeding. Additionally, the antibacterial properties of destabilase were investigated through bioinformatics and molecular docking. Our study revealed an increase in salivary protein concentration with the duration of starvation, reaching 769 μg/ml after three months. Among the various samples, the saliva concentration of leeches that had undergone three months of starvation exhibited the most potent antibacterial properties. Specifically, it exhibited an antibacterial percentage of 35.3% against S. mutans and 42.6% against S. sobrinus at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. The concentration of 2 mg/ml in the three-month saliva sample also exhibited the highest anti-biofilm percentage against both bacteria, with values of 31.6% for S. mutans and 44.2% for S. sobrinus. Given the global challenge of tooth decay, leech saliva especially destabilase, shows potential for preventing and treating this common dental condition. A significant concentration of destabilase, an antimicrobial protein present in the saliva of leeches, was identified. Also, a novel strategy was proposed to inhibit the formation of biofilms on S. mutans and S. sobrinus, which are commonly associated with tooth decay.

https://bjm.ui.ac.ir/article_29708_2fccd2e0c92c314e575e9c54ec51b9a1.pdf