How does Streptococcus mutans cause infection?

Streptococcus mutans, which causes dental caries, splits the sucrose in food and uses one of the sugars to build its capsule, which sticks tightly to the tooth. The bacteria that are trapped in the capsule use the other sugar to fuel their metabolism and produce…

What are the virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans?

Background. Streptococcus mutans is the principal etiological agent of human dental caries. The major virulence factors of S. mutans are acid production, acid tolerance, extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesis and biofilm formation.

What diseases does S. mutans cause?

Streptococcus mutans, a pathogen of dental caries, is known to be associated with bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE).

Is Streptococcus mutans aerobic or anaerobic?

facultatively anaerobic
Streptococcus mutans is a facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive coccus (round bacterium) commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay.

What type of bacteria is the cause of dental caries?

Etiology. Streptococcus mutans is the main cause of dental decay. Various lactobacilli are associated with progression of the lesion.

What is the difference between Acidogenic and Aciduric?

The acidogenic potential is defined as the amount (in mg) of lactic acid per mg plaque and minute of incubation, detected at either neutral or acidic pH. The ratio of the acidogenic potential at pH 5.5 by the acidogenic potential at pH 7.0 is defined as the aciduric potential (22).

What is the difference between mutans streptococci and Streptococcus mutans?

The group of “mutans streptococci” was described as the most important bacteria related to the formation of dental caries. Streptococcus mutans, although naturally present among the human oral microbiota, is the microbial species most strongly associated with carious lesions.

Is Streptococcus mutans opportunistic pathogen?

Hence, they are labeled as opportunistic pathogens that initiate disease and inflict damage to the host. The group of mutans streptococci was regarded as the most important etiological agent leading to the formation of clinical condition called dental caries.

What bacteria causes dental caries?

Why is Streptococcus mutans facultative anaerobe?

mutans is also a facultative anaerobe meaning it can survive with or without oxygen. It can survive using aerobic respiration in the presence of oxygen or go through fermentation in the absence of oxygen.

Is Streptococcus pyogenes aerobic or anaerobic?

facultative anaerobic bacterium
Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram-positive, spherical, and facultative anaerobic bacterium.

What is the role of the bacteria in dental caries?

These microbial acid-induced adaptation and selection processes may, over time, shift the demineralization/remineralization balance toward net mineral loss, leading to initiation/progression of dental caries (acidogenic stage).