Sucrose-derived exopolymers have site-dependent roles in Streptococcus mutans-promoted dental decay

Sucrose-derived exopolymers have site-dependent roles in Streptococcus mutans-promoted dental decay.

We have constructed a panel of mutants of S. mutans V403 which are defective in one or more of the glucosyltransferase genes (gtfB, C or D) or the fructosyltransferase gene (ftf). These strains have been tested for virulence in a gnotobiotic rat caries model with reference to both buccal (smooth surface) and sulcal (pit and fissure) carious lesions. Our data suggest differing roles for degradab...

Low sucrose levels promote extensive Streptococcus mutans-induced dental caries.

One-tenth percent sucrose significantly promotes dental caries induced by Streptococcus mutans in young gnotobiotic rats. Maximum caries activity was observed in rats provided a purified diet containing 3% sucrose.

Role of Streptococcus mutans in human dental decay.

Comprehensive mutational analysis of sucrose-metabolizing pathways in Streptococcus mutans reveals novel roles for the sucrose phosphotransferase system permease.

Sucrose is perhaps the most efficient carbohydrate for the promotion of dental caries in humans, and the primary caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans encodes multiple enzymes involved in the metabolism of this disaccharide. Here, we engineered a series of mutants lacking individual or combinations of sucrolytic pathways to understand the control of sucrose catabolism and to determine whether as...

Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose phosphotransferase activity in five serotypes of Streptococcus mutans.

An inducible phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose phosphotransferase system has been demonstrated in decryptified cell suspensions of the various common serotypes of the cariogenic microorganism Streptococcus mutans.