Ph.D. in Dentistry in the area of Pharmacology, Anesthesiology, and Therapeutics by FOP-UNICAMP. Dental surgeon and Master in Dentistry, from the State University of Paraíba (UEPB). He is currently a Professor of Dentistry at Faculdade de Norte de Mato Grosso. He develops research on the following themes: Pharmacology, Natural Products, Microbiology, Periodontal Disease, Drug Delivery Systems, and Bioinformatics applied to Pharmacology. Contact: diegoromarioo@gmail.com.
Part of the book: Issues in Contemporary Orthodontics
Part of the book: Current Concepts in Dental Implantology
Part of the book: Emerging Trends in Oral Health Sciences and Dentistry
Probiotics are microorganisms that live in symbiosis with the human body. The intake of probiotics in adequate amounts can improve biological functions bringing improvements in the health of the host. Many studies have demonstrated the indisputable antimicrobial activity of probiotics and their potential for an alternative treatment of infections. Nevertheless, the forms of encapsulation, as well as clinical trials on the clinical use of these microorganisms as a recognized and well-established protocol, are still incipient. In this chapter, we provide a general approach to the topic and point to future directions in the probiotics field for this purpose. Moreover, microbial resistance is a current public health problem and the search for new therapeutic alternatives is urgent. Probiotics and other natural therapies have been considered very promising. The approaches of future research should focus mainly on the isolation of new probiotic microorganisms, the definition of inoculum, forms of encapsulation for controlled delivery, and clinical trials for the definition of doses and mechanism of action in the fight against infections.
Part of the book: Prebiotics and Probiotics
Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the most prevalent and most associated with dental caries. Here we aim to identify, through an in silico study, potential bioactive molecules against S. mutans. Twenty-four bioactive molecules with proven action against S. mutans were selected: 1-methoxyficifolinol; 5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-8-lavandulylflavanone (sophoraflavanone G); 6,8-diprenylgenistein; apigenin; artocarpesin; artocarpin; darbergioidin; dihydrobiochanin A; dihydrocajanin (5,2′,4′-trihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavanone); erycristagallin; Erystagallin; ferreirin; fisetin; kaempferol; licoricidin; licorisoflavan A; licorisoflavan C; licorisoflavan E; luteolin (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone); malvidin-3,5-diglucoside; myricetin; orientanol B; quercetin; and quercitrin. Moreover, we selected nine important target proteins for the virulence of this microorganism to perform as drug targets: antigen I/II (region V) (PDB: 1JMM); Antigen I/II (carbox-terminal region) (PDB: 3QE5); Spap (PDB: 3OPU); UA159sp signaling peptide (PDB: 2I2J); TCP3 signaling peptide (PDB: 2I2H); ATP-binding protein ComA (PDB: 3VX4); glucanosucrase (PDB: 3AIC); dextranase (PDB: 3VMO), and Hemolysin (PDB: 2RK5). Five molecules were revealed to be the best ligands for at least three target proteins, highlighting the following compounds: 11 (erystagallin), 10 (erycristagallin), 1 (methoxyficifonilol), 20 (malvidin-3,5-diglucoside), and 2 (sophoraflavanone G), which indicates a possible multi-target action of these compounds. Therefore, based on these findings, in vitro and in vivo tests should be performed to validate the effectiveness of these compounds in inhibiting S. mutans virulence factors. Furthermore, the promising results of these assays will allow the incorporation of these phytoconstituents in products for oral use for the control of tooth decay.
Part of the book: Oral Health Care