Structure of the C-terminal domain of the surface antigen SpaP from the caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans

The Comparison of Proteins Elaborated by Streptococcus mutans Strains Isolated from Caries Free and Susceptible Subjects

The Frequency of Streptococcus Mutans and Lactobacillus spp.in 3-5-year- old Children with and without Dental Caries

Abstract Background and Objective: The high occurrence of early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most common problems in children dentistry. Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli.spp are closely associated with the development of early childhood caries (ECC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli.spp in 3-5 –year- old ch...

Generation of Diversity in Streptococcus mutans Genes Demonstrated by MLST

Streptococcus mutans, consisting of serotypes c, e, f and k, is an oral aciduric organism associated with the initiation and progression of dental caries. A total of 135 independent Streptococcus mutans strains from caries-free and caries-active subjects isolated from various geographical locations were examined in two versions of an MLST scheme consisting of either 6 housekeeping genes [accC (...

Comparison of an adherence domain and a structural region of Streptococcus mutans antigen I/II in protective immunity against dental caries in rats after intranasal immunization.

Previous studies have identified an N-terminal saliva-binding region (SBR) on Streptococcus mutans surface antigen I/II (AgI/II) and suggested its importance in the initial adherence of S. mutans to saliva-coated tooth surfaces and subsequent development of dental caries. In this study, we compared the SBR with a C-terminal structural region of AgI/II (AgII) in their abilities to induce protect...

Virulence of a spaP mutant of Streptococcus mutans in a gnotobiotic rat model.

Streptococcus mutans, the principal etiologic agent of dental caries in humans, possesses a variety of virulence traits that enable it to establish itself in the oral cavity and initiate disease. A 185-kDa cell surface-localized protein known variously as antigen I/II, antigen B, PAc, and P1 has been postulated to be a virulence factor in S. mutans. We showed previously that P1 expression is ne...