University of Minnesota finds gum disease prevention by blocking bacterial signals
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · May 8
University of Minnesota finds gum disease prevention by blocking bacterial signals
3 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · May 8
Twin Cities researchers reported in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes that lactonase enzymes disrupted plaque quorum sensing, boosting health-associated bacteria and curbing microbes tied to periodontal disease.
The study found oxygen levels changed how signals worked: blocking AHL signalling in aerobic conditions favoured healthier bacteria, while adding AHLs in anaerobic conditions promoted disease-associated late colonisers.
Scientists say the approach could preserve beneficial oral microbes instead of killing them, offering a potential alternative as antibiotic resistance grows and possibly informing microbiome therapies beyond dentistry.
Could silencing 'bad' bacteria have unintended consequences for our body's ecosystem?
When can we expect this bacterial communication-blocking technology in our toothpaste?
With a rival German toothpaste already out, can this new method win the oral health race?
Disrupting Bacterial Quorum Sensing with Lactonase Enzymes Halts Gum Disease Progression: A 2026 Breakthrough Study
Overview
A 2026 University of Minnesota study funded by the NIH revealed that bacteria in dental plaque communicate using signaling molecules called AHLs, which travel from oxygen-rich to oxygen-poor zones, activating harmful pathogens like P. gingivalis and triggering inflammation that drives gum disease progression. The study showed that lactonase enzymes can break down these signals, disrupting bacterial communication, reducing pathogen activity and inflammation, and shifting the microbial community toward health, effectively halting disease progression. While current treatments have limitations, lactonase-based therapies are promising but remain in preclinical stages, with ongoing efforts to develop effective delivery systems and address challenges before clinical use.