AUTHOR=Lu Yifei , Lin Yifan , Li Mingyun , He Jinzhi 

TITLE=Roles of Streptococcus mutans-Candida albicans interaction in early childhood caries: a literature review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1151532

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1151532

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>As one of the most common oral diseases in kids, early childhood caries affects the health of children throughout the world. Clinical investigations show the copresence of <italic>Candida albicans</italic> and <italic>Streptococcus mutans</italic> in ECC lesions, and mechanistic studies reveal co-existence of <italic>C. albicans</italic> and <italic>S. mutans</italic> affects both of their cariogenicity. Clearly a comprehensive understanding of the interkingdom interaction between these two microorganisms has important implications for ECC treatment and prevention. To this end, this review summarizes advances in our understanding of the virulence of both <italic>C. albicans</italic> and <italic>S. mutans</italic>. More importantly, the synergistic and antagonistic interactions between these two microbes are discussed.</p>