Fluoride triggers lysis in Streptococcus mutans by inhibition of the Clp protease complex, leading to an unabated competence cascade

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 122, Issue 50, December 2025. <br/>SignificanceIt has been known for decades that fluoride has antimicrobial properties, but the molecular mechanisms that underlie fluoride-induced bacterial lysis remain unknown. UsingStreptococcus mutans, the main pathogen responsible for dental caries, …