In recent months Hong Kong citizens have learned much about a lethal bacterium— Streptococcus suis— which has caused at least 38 deaths among 204 people infected in Sichuan province alone. They were told that this bacterium is widely spread among pigs; many carry it without developing any illness. Environmental factors such as high temperature or humidity might trigger off a clinical infection ...

Two oligonucleotide primer sets for the discrimination of Streptococcus pneumoniae from "pneumococcus-like" oral streptococcal isolates by PCR were developed. Genomic subtractive hybridization was performed to search for differences between Streptococcus pneumoniae strain WU2 and the most closely related oral streptococcus, Streptococcus mitis strain 903. We identified 19 clones that contained ...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Although habitual consumption of xylitol reduces cariogenic streptococci levels, its effect on beneficial oral streptococci is less clear. The main aim of the study is to investigate the effect of short-term xylitol consumption on the oral beneficial streptococci level of saliva, Streptococcus sanguinis and S. mitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty four volunteers with a median...

A PCR assay that allows identification of clinically relevant viridans group streptococci (Streptococcus gordonii, S. mitis, S. mutans, S. oralis, S. salivarius, and S. sanguis) to the species level and identification of milleri group streptococci (S. anginosus, S. constellatus, and S. intermedius) to the group level was developed. This assay was based on specific amplification of internal frag...

background: contamination of swimming pools’ water can lead to the transfer of different diseases to humans. the aim of this study was to investigate the quality of water in kerman swimming pools. methods: in this cross-sectional study, sampling from swimming pools was performed before and after swimming, every week. total number of samples collected was 150 samples. samples were investigated i...

BACKGROUND Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus sanguinis are members of the Mitis group of streptococci and agents of oral biofilm, dental plaque and infective endocarditis, disease processes that involve bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-host interactions. Their close relative, the human pathogen S. pneumoniae uses pilus-islet 2 (PI-2)-encoded pili to facilitate adhesion ...

BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of invasive bacterial disease in developed and developing countries. We studied the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique to assess its suitability for detecting S. pneumoniae nucleic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We established an improved LAMP assay targeting the lytA gene (Streptoco...

Similar alpha-(1-->6) linkage-rich, soluble, extracellular glucans have been isolated from six strains of two genetically distinct groups of Streptococcus sanguis and three strains of Streptococcus mitior.

Streptococcal bloodstream infections resulting in right-sided endocarditis are uncommon. Streptococcus mitis can demonstrate slow-growing potential leading to delayed presentation or culture-negative endocarditis. Endocarditis accompanied by skin lesions represents a severe disease course. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy complicating the require well...