Is Streptococcus mutans virulent?

Streptococcus mutans is considered one of the primary causative agents of dental caries and can also be a source of infective endocarditis. The main virulence factors associated with cariogenicity include adhesion, acidogenicity, and acid tolerance.

Does S. mutans produce lactic acid?

Lactic acid is the major end-product of glycolysis by Streptococcus mutans under conditions of sugar excess or low environmental pH.

What is the pathogenicity of Streptococcus mutans?

The pathogenicity of certain microbial species such as Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Legionella pneumophila or Pseudomonas aeruginosa is inseparably associated with their ability to form biofilms on solid surfaces, e.g., tissues, catheters or implants [1–4].

What does S. mutans cause?

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.

Which of the following virulence factors are important concerning periodontitis?

Recent studies have confirmed that LPS, gingipains, and fimbriae/pili are the most important pathogenic substances of P. gingivalis and the most widely studied in the field of periodontitis, and each of these factors play key roles in the progression of periodontitis (Mysak et al., 2014).

Is Streptococcus mutans catalase positive?

Although oral streptococci lack catalase, S. mutans utilizes a number of scavenging and protective systems to prevent the accumulation of toxic ROS.

How is Streptococcus mutans transmitted?

Being transmitted primarily from the saliva of the mother, this bacterium colonizes the mouth of an infant as soon as the primary teeth erupt. There is an interplay of various host and bacterial factors that are associated with the colonization of S. mutans in the oral cavity of children.

What does the A12 bacterium do to fight the S. mutans bacterium?

Streptococcus mutans metabolizes sugar into lactic acid, contributing to the acidic conditions in the mouth that dissolve enamel and cause cavities. But A12 neutralizes acid by metabolizing arginine in the mouth. It often kills S mutans as well.

What is the virulence factors of periodontal disease?

Among such virulence factors are fimbriae and lectin-type adhesins, a polysaccharide capsule, lipopolysaccharides, hemagglutinins, potent proteinases, toxic products of metabolism, outer membrane vesicles, and numerous enzymes.