End of Mouthwash? Could Cavities Become the First Disease CRISPR Erases Instead of Treating?

Instead of treating tooth decay after it begins, researchers have developed a CRISPR system designed to remove the bacterium responsible before cavities can form. What CRISPR Does, and Why the Delivery System Is BreakthroughCRISPR-Cas systems work by using a guide RNA to direct a molecular cutting tool, the Cas protein, to a specific sequence of DNA. The researchers used membrane vesicles derived from Lactobacillus acidophilus, a probiotic bacterium already well established in both gut and oral health, as the delivery vehicle. As the study noted, the hybrid system demonstrated "enhanced specificity and efficacy" against S. mutans compared with conventional antimicrobial agents in laboratory and in vivo testing. He said the work represents part of a broader shift from treating dental disease to engineering the oral microbiome to prevent it.