Mohammad Pourahmadi - Department of Anatomical Sciences, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
Kimia Pourahmadi - Student Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Farzan Modaresi - Departments of Microbiology, Advanced Medical Sciences and Technology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
Shekoufeh Atashpoor - Departments of Microbiology, Advanced Medical Sciences and Technology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
Azita Azad - Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Alireza Ranjbaran - Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abdolmajid Ghasemian - Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran

Background & Objective: The spread and development of drug-resistant bacterial strains has prompted the hunt for novel antibacterial polypeptides undergoing conformational changes to confer rapid bactericidal effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of novel BMAP۲۷-Melittin conjugated peptide- nanoparticle (NP) against Streptococcus mutans as the primary pathogen from subgingival plaques.Methods: Sixty subgingival plaque samples were collected, and ۳۹ S. mutans isolates were identified. The BMAP۲۷-Melittin conjugated peptide was purchased from GenScript Company, USA. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (BIC), and Biofilm Eradication Concentration (BEC) of BMAP۲۷-Melittin-NP were calculated using the microtiter method.Results: Thirty-nine infected subjects were reported, including ۲۴ males and ۱۵ females (P=۰.۲۹۹). MIC, MBC, BIC, and BEC of BMAP۲۷-Melittin–NP against S. mutans were ۱.۸, ۲.۹, ۲.۱, and ۳.۸μg/mL, respectively. The mean MBC, BEC, and BIC values were significantly lower among clinical isolates than S. mutans ATCC ۳۵۶۸۸ standard strain (P=۰.۰۳۲, ۰.۰۰۱, and ۰.۰۰۱, respectively).Conclusion: BMAP۲۷-Melittin-NP demonstrated significant antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects against clinical isolates of S. mutans which can be considered a promising compound to prevent or treat dental caries and eradicate the oral infections.

Antimicrobial Peptide, Biofilms, BMAP-۲۷, Melittin, nanoparticles, Streptococcus mutans