The study of natural antibiotics in the mouth may lead to new treatments for oral infections and new ways to boost the infection-fighting powers of mouthwashes, denture coatings and wound dressings, according to researchers at a Feb. 16 joint presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The natural antibiotic compounds, called beta-defensins, are key components of human’s innate immune systems, which have the ability to distinguish between harmless and harmful bacteria. Disease-causing and harmless, or commensal, bacteria trigger the activation of ß-defensins through different chemical signaling pathways. The role of commensal bacteria may be to alert the immune system to the possible presence of invading bacteria, says Dr. Beverly Dale, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle.
"The mouth is a perfect place to study the innate immune system because it’s such an incredibly complex and challenging ecological system," said Dr. Dale. "Our mouth is full of moist surfaces, perfect for bacteria to adhere to. As a result, and despite efforts to brush them away, we have millions of bacteria in our mouths. Yet most of us remain healthy—without infections—most of the time."
In her presentation on ß-defensins, Dr. Dale discussed how these natural antibiotics are activated and could be used to treat or prevent infection. Some institutions already are testing the use of simple antimicrobial peptides similar to ß-defensins to prevent oral mucositis. Other possible uses for ß-defensins or natural compounds that stimulate their production may include mouthwashes, denture coatings, wound dressings and coatings for catheters and other medical equipment.
"The innate immune system is a very subtle system that keeps us healthy most of the time," Dr. Dale said. "A better understanding of how the system works can help us understand how to enhance it. If our cells can tell the difference between different types of bacteria, what else are they doing that may protect our bodies from infection?"
