Le phénomène croissant d'acquisition de résistances aux antibiotiques par les bactéries demeure une des préoccupations majeures de santé publique. Notre laboratoire s'investit dans le développement de nouveaux moyens envisagés pour freiner cette résistance, par l'étude des mutacines. Ces mutacines sont des peptides antimicrobiens de la famille des bactériocines démontrant une activité inhibitrice sur un certain nombre de bactéries pathogènes résistantes aux antibiotiques conventionnels. Les objectifs de ma maîtrise étaient de produire en milieu liquide, purifier et caractériser les mutacines D-123.1, P-136.1 et U-F respectivement produites par trois souches différentes de Streptococcus mutans : 123.1, 136.1 et F. Ainsi, après plusieurs tentatives de production, seule la mutacine D-123.1 issue d'un milieu de perméat de lactosérum enrichi à l'extrait de levure a montré une légère activité. Ce surnageant actif s'est montré sensible à 70°C/ 15min, mais résistant à 50°C/ 15 min. Elle est active à pH 4,5. Les essais de purification par chromatographies hydrophobes et d'échanges d'ions n'ont pas permis la purification de la mutacine D-123.1. / The increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance is of major concern in public health. In our laboratory we search for new natural antimicrobial substances to replace antibiotics to which bacteria are becoming more and more resistant. Mutacins are antimicrobial substances of the bacteriocin family showing inhibitory activity against antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. The objectives of my research were to produce in liquid medium, to purify and characterize mutacins D-123.1, P-136.1, and U-F. These mutacins are respectively produced by strains of Streptococcus mutans 123.1, 136.1, and F. After several attempts of production, only mutacin D-123.1 was detected in liquid medium made of cheese whey permeate enriched with yeast extract. The activity was thermosensitive (70°C/15 min) but resisted a treatment at 5O°C/15 min. It is active at pH 4.5. Attempts at purification of mutacin D123.1 using hydrophobic and ion exchange chromatographies did not succeed.

No / Using preparative electrophoresis, a low molecular weight protein has been partially purified from a cell extract of the equine pathogen Streptococcus equi susp. equi. N-terminal sequence analysis and Western blotting revealed the protein to be HPr, a central component of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS). Interestingly, the only form of the HPr protein detected in S. equi was one with the amino-terminal methionine removed, a modification that has previously been associated with surface localization of streptococcal HPr proteins.

No / Streptococcus mutans is frequently identified on the basis of phenotypic characteristics such as the ability to ferment carbohydrates. The usefulness of some of these identification tests may be limited in the case of isolates which are atypical with regard to their fermentation properties. We previously identified isolates of S. mutans which were unable to ferment melibiose, a characteristic which is included in some typing schemes. In all of these isolates there was a large chromosomal deletion which included the multiple sugar metabolism (msm) operon which encodes several genes involved in the uptake and metabolism of a number of sugars including melibiose. In the present study, sugar fermentation tests, ribotyping, colony hybridisation with DNA probes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to investigate the relatedness of these atypical isolates. The PCR and colony hybridisation procedures were based on amplification and detection of two genes: the wapA gene which encodes a surface protein found in all S. mutans strains and the gtfA gene which lies within the msm operon. The colony hybridisation and PCR results confirmed loss of the gtfA gene in the melibiose-negative isolates. Three new melibiose-negative isolates were also identified, but in only 2 of these was the gtfA gene absent, the third did not appear to have lost this region of the chromosome. Biotyping, as well as ribotyping based on an EcoRl digest of chromosomal DNA, revealed that the melibiose-negative isolates fell into a number of distinct groups. The identification of an isolate which is unable to ferment melibiose but does not appear to have lost the msm operon indicates that the melibiose-negative phenotype can arise from more than one type of genetic event.

Les cas d'infections à Streptococcus suis sont très répandus dans tous les pays producteurs de porcs. Cet organisme est également reconnu comme un agent de zoonose pour les personnes en contact étroit avec les porcs ou leurs produits dérivés. De nombreux rapports indiquent que depuis le début des années soixante-dix, le nombre de cas d'infections ainsi que la gravité des infections à S. suis ont considérablement augmenté. Un temps d'incubation plus court, une progression plus rapide de la maladie, un taux plus élevé de mortalité soulignent la nécessité urgente de mieux comprendre les facteurs associés à la pathogenèse de l'infection par S. suis. Des 35 serotypes décrits, le serotype 2 demeure le plus fréquemment associé à un phénomène de septicémie et à des cas de maladies telles que les méningites, endocardites et pneumonies. C'est également le serotype le plus souvent retrouvé chez l'humain et le porc. La pathogenèse de l'infection causée par S. suis est encore relativement mal connue. La présence d'une capsule riche en acide sialique est classiquement considérée comme un facteur de virulence essentiel, mais récemment d'autres facteurs ont également été cités. Cette étude avait pour but d'identifier et de caractériser de nouveaux déterminants de virulence chez S. suis. Dans un premier temps, la capacité de S. suis à former un biofilm a été étudiée. Il a été démontré que la présence de fibrinogène pouvait induire la formation d'un biofilm chez S. suis. Un mutant déficient pour l'expression de la capsule de même que des souches non-sérotypables de S. suis dépourvues de capsule ont montré une capacité de former un biofilm sans apport de fibrinogène. Il a été suggéré que la capsule chez S. suis pourait cacher des adhésines de surface et ainsi interférer avec la formation du biofilm et les capacités d'adhésion. Dans un second temps, l'utilisation d'un mutant de S. suis déficient pour une pseudo-subtilisine a permis de démontrer le rôle critique de cette protease pour le développement d'une infection dans un modèle de souris. La pseudo-subtilisine de S. suis a été clonée, purifiée et caractérisée. Certaines protéines de l'hôte comme le fibrinogène se sont révélées susceptibles à la protease. Une stimulation de macrophages par la pseudo-subtilisine recombinante a induit à une forte sécrétion de cytokines pro-inflammatoires. Lors d'infections expérimentales à S. suis chez le porc, les animaux ont développé des anticorps dirigés contre la pseudo-subtilisine, suggérant ainsi que cette protease représente un immunogène d'intérêt pour la vaccination. Enfin, un nouveau modèle pour l'analyse de la virulence de S. suis a été mis au point utilisant l'amibe Dictyostelium discoideum. Ce modèle a mis en évidence des différences majeures entre des souches sauvages virulentes de S. suis et des mutants ayant une virulence atténuée dans des modèles animaux classiques. En conclusion, ce projet a permis d'améliorer nos connaissances des mécanismes étiopathogéniques des infections à S. suis et a ouvert de nouvelles perspectives de prévention et traitement de ces infections.

Streptococcus suis est un agent pathogène porcin causant des pneumonies, des septicémies et des méningites. Il est aussi un agent de zoonose responsable de plusieurs éclosions en Asie. Les souches de S. suis sont classifiées en 35 sérotypes basés sur la composition de leur capsule polysaccharidique. S. suis sérotype 2 cause la majorité des infections sévères et est sous-divisé en séquence types (ST). Le ST1 est associé avec des souches hautement virulentes. En Amérique du Nord, les souches communément isolées appartiennent aux ST25 et ST28, respectivement modérément et faiblement virulentes dans un modèle animal. La présence de S. suis sous forme de bioaérosols dans l’air des bâtiments porcins a été démontré. Le but de ce projet est d’étudier l’aérosolisation préférentielle de différentes souches de S. suis en utilisant une chambre expérimentale et un nébuliseur développés pour ce projet. Bien qu’un nombre supérieur de souches doivent être étudiées, les résultats du projet suggèrent que les souches hautement virulentes du sérotype 2 de ST1 semblent être préférentiellement aérosolisées et que l’aérosolisation préférentielle de S. suis semble être un processus souche dépendant. Cette étude est une preuve de concept et améliore nos connaissances sur la potentielle transmission de S. suis via les bioaérosols. / Streptococcus suis is a swine pathogen that causes pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis. It is also a zoonotic agent responsible for outbreaks in Asia. S. suis strains are classified into 35 serotypes based on the composition of their polysaccharide capsule. S. suis serotype 2 causes the majority of severe infections and it is subdivided into sequence types (STs). The ST1 is associated with highly virulent strains. In North America, the strains most commonly isolated belong to ST25 and ST28, which are respectively moderately and weakly virulent in animal model. The presence of S. suis bioaerosols in the air of swine confinement buildings has been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to better understand the aerosolization behaviour of S. suis by investigating preferential aerosolization of different S. suis strains using in-house developed environmental chamber and nebulizer. Although more strains should be studied, the results suggest that the highly virulent serotype 2 ST1 strains seem to be preferentially aerosolized and that the S. suis preferential aerosolization is a strain-dependant process. This study is a proof of concept and increases our knowledge on the potential aerosol transmission of S. suis.

Face au développement incessant de la résistance aux antibiotiques, la découverte de nouvelles substances antibactériennes devient urgente. Les bactériocines, peptides bactériens à activité antibiotique synthétisés par les ribosomes, représentent une alternative. Les mutacines sont des bactériocines produites par Streptococcus mutans, une espèce bactérienne indigène de la cavité buccale. Quatre types de mutacines ont été caractérisés à ce jour: les lantibiotiques et non-lantibiotiques, monopeptidiques ou dipeptidiques. Des analyses bio-informatiques des génomes de S. mutans UA159 et NN2025 ont révélé la diversité des gènes codant potentiellement pour des bactériocines. L'étude des mutacines s'est toujours confrontée à la difficulté de les produire en milieu liquide. Deux mutacines (F-59.1 et I-T9) ont été produites et isolées d'un surnageant de culture d'un milieu élaboré à partir de perméat de lactosérum. La mutacine D-123.1 a été isolée à partir d'un milieu de culture de nature semi-solide. Les analyses biochimiques et moléculaires des mutacines révèlent que la mutacine F-59.1 est apparentée aux bactériocines de la famille des pédiocines alors que la mutacine D-123.1 appartient aux lantibiotiques. Les concentrations minimales inhibitrices (CMI) et bactéricides (CMB) des mutacines D-123.1 et F-59.1 ont été déterminées contre plusieurs pathogènes humains. La mutacine D-123.1 a montré son efficacité contre les pathogènes du domaine médical et alimentaire avec des CMI comprises entre 0.25 et 4 ug/mL. La mutacine F-59.1 inhibe les pathogènes alimentaires avec des CMI comprises entre 3.2 et 12.8 ug/mL. De façon à détecter simplement et rapidement des mutacines apparentées aux pédiocines, les 24 souches type productrices de mutacines ont été testées par un test d'antagonisme différé, pour leur capacité à produire une mutacine capable de cibler le complexe IIC des transporteurs membranaires du mannose pour exercer leur activité inihibitrice. Streptococcus salivarius et des mutants défectueux dans leur transporteur du mannose ont été utilisés comme souches indicatrices. Deux souches de S. mutans (T9 et 3B) ont démontré une activité différente contre la souche mère et ces mutants, indiquant potentiellement la production de mutacine ciblant le transporteur du mannose par ces deux souches.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / BactÃrias e fungos sÃo encontrados juntos em uma infinidade de ambientes e, particularmente, na forma de biofilme, onde as espÃcies aderentes interagem atravÃs de diversos mecanismos de sinalizaÃÃo. Na cavidade oral, espÃcies de Candida coexistem com inÃmeras espÃcies bacterianas, e evidÃncias sugerem que bactÃrias podem modular a formaÃÃo de biofilme, bem como induzir a formaÃÃo de hifas e pseudo-hifas. Assim, caracterizar tais interaÃÃes à essencial para o entendimento da patogÃnese das doenÃas e, possivelmente, a descoberta de novas estratÃgias terapÃuticas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar, in vitro, os mecanismos envolvidos na interaÃÃo entre as bactÃrias Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus parasanguinis e a levedura Candida tropicalis. No estudo foi analisado o efeito dos metabÃlitos extracelulares presentes no sobrenadante de C. tropicalis (SCT) sobre o biofilme prÃ-formado (6h) de S. oralis, S. sanguinis e S. parasanguinis. TambÃm foi avaliado o efeito dos metabÃlitos extracelulares de S. oralis (SSO), S. sanguinis (SSS) e S. parasanguinis (SSP) sobre o crescimento planctÃnico, formaÃÃo de biofilme e capacidade de filamentaÃÃo de C. tropicalis, utilizando apenas o sobrenadante da cultura de cada um dos estreptococos em diferentes concentraÃÃes (100, 50 e 25%). AlÃm disso, foi analisado o efeito dos metabÃlitos extracelulares dos estreptococos sobre o biofilme prÃ-formado (6h) de C. tropicalis. Para verificar o efeito dos metabÃlitos extracelulares foram utilizados dois mÃtodos: o mÃtodo turbidimÃtrico que se baseia na leitura da densidade Ãptica (OD) das suspensÃes celulares e a coloraÃÃo cristal violeta (CV) que permite a quantificaÃÃo indireta da formaÃÃo de biofilme atravÃs da coloraÃÃo com cristal violeta. Em seguida, foram examinadas as caracterÃsticas dos biofilmes, formados por 24 horas, atravÃs da anÃlise por microscopia Ãptica comum. Os resultados referentes ao biofilme foram submetidos ao ANOVA com pÃs-teste Bonferroni, com diferenÃa estatÃstica de p<0,01. Nossos resultados sugerem que substÃncias solÃveis produzidas por S. oralis, S. sanguinis e S. parasanguinis induzem a formaÃÃo de hifas de C. tropicalis sem interferir no crescimento planctÃnico. AlÃm de diminuir drasticamente o desenvolvimento do biofilme dessa levedura quando em contato com SSS e SSP. Tal fato reforÃa a ideia de que existe grande heterogeneidade dentro de biofilmes polimicrobianos, especialmente entre leveduras e bactÃrias. E que o resultado dessa interaÃÃo depende das condiÃÃes as quais estes micro-organismos serÃo submetidos. / Bacteria and fungi are found together in a multitude of environments, and particularly in the form of biofilm adherent species which interact through various signaling mechanisms. In the oral cavity, Candida species coexist with numerous bacterial species, and evidence suggests that bacteria can modulate biofilm formation as well as induce the formation of hyphae. Thus, to characterize such interactions are essential to the understanding of pathogenesis of diseases and possibly the discovery of new therapeutic strategies. In this sense, the main objective of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the mechanisms involved in the interaction between bacteria Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Streptococcus parasanguinis yeast Candida tropicalis. In the study the effect of extracellular metabolites present in the supernatant of C. tropicalis (SCT) on the pre-formed biofilm (6H) S. oralis, S. sanguinis and S. parasanguinis was analyzed. The effect of extracellular metabolites of S. oralis (SSO), S. sanguinis (SSS) and S. parasanguinis (SSP) on planktonic growth and biofilm formation capacity filamentation of C. tropicalis was also evaluated using only the supernatant culturing each of streptococci in different concentrations (100, 50 and 25%). Furthermore, the effect of extracellular metabolites of streptococci on the pre-formed biofilm (6h) of C. tropicalis were analyzed. To verify the effect of extracellular metabolites two methods were used: The turbidimetric method based on the reading of the optical density (OD) of cell suspension and coloring crystal violet (CV) which permits indirect quantification of the biofilm formation by staining with crystal violet. Then were examined characteristics of biofilms formed by 24 hours, through the analysis simple optical microscope. The results for the biofilm were subjected to ANOVA with Bonferroni post-test, with a statistical difference of p<0.01.Our results suggest that soluble substances produced by S. oralis, S. sanguinis and S. parasanguinis induce the formation of hyphae of C. tropicalis without interfering with planktonic growth.In addition to dramatically decrease biofilm development of oral yeast when in contact with SSP and SSS. This reinforces the idea that there is great heterogeneity within polymicrobial biofilms, especially between yeasts and bacteria. And the result of this interaction depends on the conditions which these micro-organisms will be subjected.

Streptococcus Agalactiae est depuis les années 1990, responsable d'infections invasives émergentes chez l'adulte. Nous montrons queles souches responsables de ces infections appartiennent majoritairement aux sérotypes V et Ia et aux deux clones phylogénétiquement éloignés, CC1 et CC23. L'étude du contenu prophagique montre une lysogénie fréquente suggérant l'importance de la lysogénie dans la spécialisation de ces souches particulièrement aptes à infecter l'adulte. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons isolé sept phages tempérés de souches associées à des infections cutanées et ostéo-articulaires. Ces phages appartiennent à la famille des SIPHOVIRIDAE. L’analyse par restriction enzymatique de l’ADN phagique et l’amplification par PCR de fragments d’ADN prophagique a montré la diversité de ces phages et leurdifférence des phages isolés de souches associées aux infections materno-foetales. Les phagesisolés de souches lysogènes de CC1 ont présenté un spectre lytique étendu aux souches de tous les clones intra-species. / Streptococcus agalactiae has emerged since 1990 in infections in nonpregnant adults, We showed that the strains isolated from adult infections were mainly of serotypes V and Ia., and mainly belonged to the two phylogenetically distant clones, CC1 and CC23. The prophagic content study showed a frequent lysogeny, suggesting a role of lysegeny in the specialization of these strains able to infect adult. Also, we isolated seven phages from strains associated with cutaneous and osteoarticular infections in adult. Ces phages classified among SIPHOVIRIDAE. Restriction analysis of phagic DNA and PCR for prophagic DNA showed genetiacally diverse phages, distinct from the phages isolated from strains responsible for materno-foetal infections. Phages isolated from lysogenic strains of CC1 had a wide lytic spectrum and were able to lyse strains belonging to all clones intra-species.

As infecções do trato respiratório inferior lideram entre as principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade no mundo. Um dos grandes problemas associados ao tratamento das infecções do sistema respiratório, como as pneumonias, advém da crescente resistência aos mais modernos antibióticos adquirida pelos microrganismos. A terapia fotodinâmica, uma técnica baseada na interação da luz com uma substância fotoativa para causar dano oxidativo a células, tem se destacado como uma interessante alternativa para diversas doenças como diferentes tipos de câncer e infecções. Neste trabalho foi realizada, com experimentos in vitro, uma prova de princípio da possibilidade de inativar, com um protocolo eficiente e seguro, uma das bactérias mais comumente encontradas em quadros de pneumonia, a Streptococcus pneumoniae, com terapia fotodinâmica infravermelha mediada pela indocianina verde. Duas fontes de luz, uma a base de lasers emitindo 780 nm e outra construída com LEDs emitindo 850 nm, foram comparadas para avaliar sua eficiência. Experimentos com a bactéria foram realizados para determinação dos melhores parâmetros de inativação microbiana. Em seguida, ensaios de citotoxicidade foram feitos com macrófagos RAW 264.7 com o intuito de averiguar se as condições microbicidas não apresentavam atividade tóxica para células fagocitárias do sistema imune. Foi possível delinear os parâmetros de concentração de indocianina, tempo de incubação e dose de luz que apresentassem atividade microbicida e que não fossem tóxicas para as células. A interação da terapia fotodinâmica com a ação fagocitária dos macrófagos sobre as bactérias foi avaliada pelo estabelecimento de co-cultura dessas espécies. Concluiu-se que, utilizando-se LEDs de 850 nm fornecendo uma dose de luz de 10 J/cm2 as amostras contendo indocianina verde 5&mu;M, é possível inativar S. pneumoniae de modo eficiente e auxiliar a ação fagocitária de macrófagos. / The lower respiratory tract infections lead among the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A major problem associated with respiratory tract infections, e.g. pneumonia, stems from from the increasingly resistance to most modern antibiotics developed by microorganisms. Photodynamic therapy, a technique based on the interaction of light and a photoactive substance to cause oxidative damage to cells, has emerged as an attractive alternative for several diseases such as different kinds of cancer and infections. In this work, with in vitro experiments, we accomplished a proof of concept for the possibility of inactivating, with an efficient and secure protocol, one of the most commonly found bacteria in pneumonia cases, Streptococcus pneumoniae, with infrared photodynamic therapy mediated by indocyanine green. Two light sources, one based on 780 nm lasers and the other built with 850 nm LEDs, were compared to evaluate their efficiency. Experiments with bacteria determined the best parameters microbial inactivation. Then, cytotoxicity assays with RAW 264.7 macrophages analyzed if the microbicidal parameters had toxic effects on immune cells. It was possible to delineate the indocyanine concentration parameters, incubation time and dose of light to obtain microbicidal results that weren´t toxic to the cells. Interaction of photodynamic therapy with the phagocytic action of macrophages on the bacteria was assessed by establishing a co-culture with these species. We concluded that, using 850 nm LEDs providing a light dose of 10 J/cm2 to samples containing 5&mu;M indocyanine green, it is possible to inactivate S. pneumoniae and efficiently assist the phagocytic action of macrophages.

O presente estudo foi dividido em quatro etapas distintas. A primeira etapa teve por objetivo avaliar a liberação de xilitol na saliva de humanos ao longo do tempo após aplicação de verniz controle e contendo 10% e 20% de xilitol. Um estudo cruzado foi realizado pela aplicação de 32 mg de cada verniz sobre as superfícies vestibulares de todos os incisivos centrais de 10 voluntários. Amostras salivares foram coletadas no baseline e após 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 1 h 30 min, 2 h, 4 h e 8 h da aplicação dos vernizes para posterior análise da concentração de xilitol na saliva. Um estudo clínico foi realizado na segunda etapa com o objetivo de verificar a influência do verniz contendo xilitol a 20% sobre a contagem de estreptococos do grupo mutans provenientes de biofilme dentário. Semanalmente, 32 mg de verniz controle (grupo G1) ou verniz contendo xilitol a 20% (grupo G2) foram aleatoriamente aplicados sobre as superfícies vestibulares dos incisivos centrais de 67 crianças. Após quatro semanas de procedimento, amostras de biofilme dentário foram coletadas do terço cervical de todos os dentes presentes na cavidade bucal e a contagem relativa e absoluta dos microrganismos foi determinada. A terceira etapa objetivou analisar a influência do xilitol sobre a ultra-estrutura de Streptococcus mutans ATCC 33478 e Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC 25175. Além disso, a capacidade do xilitol e do flúor em promover estresse celular em S. mutans UA 159 geneticamente modificados (deleção do gene vicK) foi determinada na quarta etapa. As concentrações de xilitol na saliva (F=5,228, p=0,024) em diferentes tempos de coleta (F=18,24, p<0,0001) foram estatisticamente diferentes após aplicação dos vernizes contendo 10% e 20% do açúcar (etapa 1). Na etapa 2, contagens absolutas inicial e final de estreptococos do grupo mutans (Teste-t, p=0,4192) e de estreptococos totais (Teste-t, p=0,3506) não foram significativamente diferentes nos indivíduos pertencentes ao grupo G2. No entanto, uma redução significativa na porcentagem relativa inicial e final de estreptococos do grupo mutans em relação aos estreptococos totais foi observada (Teste-t, p= 0,0095). Xilitol a 20% promoveu alterações na morfologia de S. mutans ATCC 33478 e S. sobrinus, ATCC 25175, resultando em paredes celulares mais difusas e menos definidas, cápsulas 24 polissacarídicas mais dispersas e irregulares em relação ao grupo controle (etapa 3). Os tratamentos envolvendo xilitol a 1,25% e 2,5% mostraram-se capazes de produzir maior estresse celular à S. mutans geneticamente modificados quando comparados aos tratamentos com NaF a 22,5 mM e 45 mM em todos os tempos analisados (ANOVA a um critério, Teste de Tukey, p<0,05). Portanto, o verniz contendo xilitol pode ser considerado um interessante veículo para a administração do açúcar, uma vez que demonstrou propiciar uma liberação mais lenta do poliol na cavidade bucal. Além disso, a significativa redução da contagem relativa de estreptococos do grupo mutans em relação aos estreptococos totais pode auxiliar na prevenção de cárie dentária. Este estudo também demonstrou a habilidade do xilitol em produzir alterações ultra-estruturais de S. mutans ATCC 33478 e S. sobrinus, ATCC 25175, além de ser capaz de produzir estresse celular em S. mutans UA159 com deleção do gene vicK. / This study was divided in four distinct stages. The first one aimed to assess the xylitol release in human saliva along time after application of control, 10% or 20% xylitol varnishes. A cross-over design study was performed by application of 32 mg of each varnish on buccal surfaces of all incisors of 10 volunteers. Salivary samples were collected to analyze the xylitol concentration in baseline and after 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 1 h 30 min, 2 h, 4 h and 8 h from varnishes application. A clinical study was executed in the second stage aiming observe the influence of 20% xylitol varnish on mutans streptococci counts from dental plaque. Weekly, 32 mg of control varnish (group G1) or 20% xylitol varnish (group G2) were randomly applied on buccal surfaces of central incisors of 67 children. After 4 weeks of procedures, dental plaque samples were collected from cervical of all teeth and relative and absolute counts of microorganisms were determined. The third stage aimed to analyze the effect of xylitol on the ultrastructure of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 33478 and Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC 25175. Moreover, the capacity of xylitol and fluoride to promote cellular stress in S. mutans UA 159 knockout vick gene was determined in the fourth stage. Salivary xylitol concentrations (F=5,228, p=0,024) in different collection times (F=18,24, p<0,0001) were statistically different after 10% and 20% varnishes application (stage 1). In stage 2, initial and final absolute mutans streptococci (Teste-t, p=0,4192) and total streptococci counts (Teste-t, p=0,3506) did not differ significantly in volunteers from group G2. However, a significant reduction of initial and final relative mutans streptococci counts was observed in relation to total streptococci (Teste-t, p= 0,0095). 20% xylitol promoted alterations in morphology of S. mutans ATCC 33478 and S. sobrinus, ATCC 25175, resulting in more diffuse and less defined cellular wall, more dispersive and irregular polysaccharidic capsules in comparison to control group (stage 3). 1.25% and 2.5% xylitol treatments were able to produce higher cellular stress to genetically modified S. mutans when compared to 22.5 mM and 45 mM NaF treatments throughout the time (ANOVA, Tukeys test, p<0.05). Therefore, xylitol varnish can be regarded as interesting vehicle to administer the polyol because it achieved a slower xylitol release into the oral cavity. Furthermore, a significant reduction of relative mutans streptococci counts in relation to total streptococci can aid in prevention of dental caries. The present study also demonstrated the ability of xylitol in producing ultrastructural alterations in S. mutans ATCC 33478 and S. sobrinus, ATCC 25175, besides generating cellular stress to S. mutans UA159 knockout vicK gene.