Clinical and microbiologic studies of 50 cases of viridans streptococcal bacteremia in cancer patients were performed. The bacteria were identified to species level by sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. At least nine Streptococcus spp. were found, including S. mitis (25 strains, 50.0% of 50); currently unnamed Streptococcus spp. (11 strains); S. parasanguis (five strains); S. anginosus (...

The genus Streptococcus includes a heterogeneous group of different Gram positive species (>30) that are identified on Gram stain by their spherical or ovoid shape and their tendency to grow in pairs and chains. They are nonmotile, non-spore forming, and mostly facultatively anaerobic. Streptococci are a heterogeneous group that includes a variety of species capable of causing a diverse array o...

Serum was collected one to three months after the onset of symptoms from eight endocarditis cases and from another endocarditis case about three weeks after the onset of symptoms (case 8 in Table). Endocarditis was proven in each case clinically and by numerous sets of blood -cultures that yielded growth of viridans streptococci. Three positive standard reference sera, obtained from patients wi...

Attachment of bacteria to the host tissue is regarded as a crucial step in the development of many types of infections. Recent studies by us and others have shown that matrix proteins which serve as adhesion proteins for eucaryotic cells may also be recognized by some bacteria. In the present communication, we report that several strains of viridans streptococci are able to bind to laminin. Mos...

BACKGROUND Nucleic acid amplification technologies (NAAT) are advancing our ability to make rapid molecular diagnoses in patients with serious culture negative infections. This is the first report of PCR coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry use in the evaluation of complicated community acquired pneumonia in a pediatric patient. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case of culture n...

The importance of Streptococcus mutans in the etiology of dental caries has been well documented. However, there is growing recognition that the cariogenic potential of dental plaque may be determined by the composite interactions of the total plaque bacteria rather than solely the virulence properties of a single organism. This study will examine how the interactions of S. mutans with other bi...

Production of proinflammatory cytokines is implicated in the pathogenesis of viridans streptococcus-induced alpha-streptococcal shock syndrome and infective endocarditis. Streptococcus mutans, one of the opportunistic pathogens causing infective endocarditis, was reported previously to stimulate monocytes and epithelial and endothelial cells in vitro to produce various cytokines. We found that ...

INTRODUCTION The pathogeny of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRS/NP) has not been elucidated. Bacterial exotoxins have been implicated in many inflammatory chronic diseases, such as chronic otitis, chronic tonsillitis, cholesteatomas, and more recently CRS/NP. We propose that the bacteria in CRS/NP are not only present in a planktonic state, but also occur in microbial communities...