Microbewiki:''Streptoccus mutans'' and Dental Caries

PROFILES IN BACTERIOLOGY:

What is Streptococcus mutans?

Contents

[Classification]

[S. mutans and dental caries]

[Biofilm]

[S. mutans and early childhood caries]

[References]

Gram Stain of Streptoccus mutans. CDC/Dr. Richard Facklam. 1975.

Streptococcus mutans is a Gram positive streptococcus bacterium that inhabits human teeth and has been demonstrated to be the primary bacterial cause of dental caries (commonly known as cavities). S. mutans is part of the normal flora or normal microbiota of humans, so the presence of S. mutans in the mouth does not automatically cause dental caries.

Here is a culture of Streptococcus mutans grown in the laboratory:

LA plate streaked with Streptococcus mutans and incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours

Hedetniemi, Kevin and M-K, Liao. 2006.  Luria Broth (LB) and Luria Agar (LA) Media and Their Uses: Streptococcus mutans. Furman University, Greenville, SC. http://www.microbelibrary.org/index2.php?option=com_resource&controller=article&Itemid=73&article=3033. 25 April 2013.

Want to know more about how S. mutans causes cavities? See the [S. mutans and dental caries] page.

References:

• Image 1043, Public Health Image Library. CDC website.

 http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp?pid=1043

• Tortora, G. J., Funke, B. R., and Case, C. L. Microbiology: An Introduction, Tenth edition. 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.