Streptococcus mutans: Difference between revisions
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How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms. | How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms. | ||
Streptococcus mutans is an animal parasite, especially for animals have high carbohydrate (sucrose, fructose, and glucose)diet, and is well known as primitive causative agent of dental caries in humans (4). | |||
S. mutans is the main contributor to tooth decay, and is mostly found on surfaces of tooth. when food containing carbohydrates is consumed, S. mutans interact with it and produce acids that cause mineral loss from teeth. the tooth cavity is the result of this mineral loss, and it can eventually destroy the whole tooth. | S. mutans is the main contributor to tooth decay, and is mostly found on surfaces of tooth. when food containing carbohydrates is consumed, S. mutans interact with it and produce acids that cause mineral loss from teeth. the tooth cavity is the result of this mineral loss, and it can eventually destroy the whole tooth. | ||
Revision as of 23:27, 18 August 2007
Classification
Higher order taxa
Bacteria(Domain); Firmicutes(Phylum); Bacilli(Class); Lactobacillales(Order); Streptococcaceae(Family) (1).
Species
Streptococcus mutans (1).
Description and significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.
Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?
Cell structure and metabolism
Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
the association of S. mutans in dense biofilms on the teeth suggests that S. mutans may affect other plaque bacteria in the mouth. in fact, earlier studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between the quantity of S. mutans in dental plague and the presence of another bacterim named Streptococcus sanguinis. the study shows that S. mutans antagonize the growth of S. sanguinis via either acid production or the elaboration of bacteriocins (2).
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Streptococcus mutans is an animal parasite, especially for animals have high carbohydrate (sucrose, fructose, and glucose)diet, and is well known as primitive causative agent of dental caries in humans (4).
S. mutans is the main contributor to tooth decay, and is mostly found on surfaces of tooth. when food containing carbohydrates is consumed, S. mutans interact with it and produce acids that cause mineral loss from teeth. the tooth cavity is the result of this mineral loss, and it can eventually destroy the whole tooth. tooth decay can spread in the mouth, and can cause extreme pain with difficulty of chewing. several infections caused by S. mutans can even result a death in extreme cases (5).
some virulence factors of S. mutans are found that distinguish S. mutans strains from other oral streptococci isolated from the human oral cavity. first, s. mutans is able to synthesize insoluble adhesive glucans from sucorse. second, it has relatively more acid tolerance (aciduricity). third, it has a rapid production of lactic acid from dietary sugars. also, a number of genes that influence the virulence are found. These genes include gtfB, gtfC, and gtfD genes coding for glucosyltransferases, the gbpA and gbpC genes encoding glucan-binding proteins, spaP expressing a cell surface adhesion, and the glgR gene involved in intracellular polysaccharide storage. In addition, a number of other genes that have been shown to affect potential virulence properties in vitro are also characterized, including some involved in the stress responses of S. mutans. These genes are ffh, dgk, gbpB, and an apurinic-apyrimidinic endonuclease gene (2).
Application to Biotechnology
Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?
Current Research
Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required
References
1. National Center for Biotechnology Information. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=1309&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock
2. Vincent A. Fischetti, Richard P. Novick, Joseph J. Ferretti, Daniel A. Portnoy, and Julian I. Rood. Gram-Positive Pathogens. 2nd ed. Washington: American Society for Microbiology press, 2006
3. Shigeyuki Hamada, Suzanne M. Michalek, et al. Molecular Microbiology and Immunobiology of Streptococcus mutans. New York: Elsevier Science, 1986
4. Infection and Immunity by the American Society for Microbiology. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=175350
5. National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center. http://www.mchoralhealth.org/openwide/mod1_2.htm
Edited by [duk002@ucsd.edu Dustin Kim], student of Dr. LarsenRachel Larsen
