Journal
CARIES RESEARCH
Volume 39, Issue 4, Pages 262-268Publisher
KARGER
DOI: 10.1159/000084831
Keywords
cariogenicity; polysaccharide; serotype; Streptococcus mutans
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Previously, we isolated and characterized a new Streptococcus mutans strain ( serotype k) from human blood and oral cavity samples, and found that the serological properties of serotype k strains were similar to those of a gluA-inactivated mutant strain of MT8148 (MT8148GD). MT8148GD showed significantly lower sucrose-dependent adhesion to glass surfaces, sucrose-independent adhesion to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite, dextran-binding activity, and cell-associated glucosyltransferase (GTF) activity than the parent strain. Further, Western blot analysis revealed reduced GTFB and GTFC expression in serotype k strains as compared to MT8148, though the caries-inducing activities of MT8148GD and a serotype k oral isolate in rats were similar to that of MT8148. We conclude that a glucose side-chain defect in the serotype-specific polysaccharide of S. mutans may be associated with its cariogenicity, though to a lesser extent than its other major surface proteins. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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