Streptococcus mutans
From DrugPedia: A Wikipedia for Drug discovery
Streptococcus mutans
It is a Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic bacterium commonly found in the human oral cavity. The microbe was first described by Clarke in 1924. It is a significant contributor to tooth decay.
| Kingdom | Bacteria |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Firmicutes |
| Class | Bacilli |
| Order | Lactobacillales |
| Family | Streptococcaceae |
| Genus | Streptococcus |
| Species | S. mutans |
| Binomial | Streptococcus mutans |
[edit] Surface Characteristics
The major fraction (eI) of Streptococcus mutans strain MT703 serotype e was identified as a polysaccharide composed of 37% glucose, 56% rhamnose, 5% protein, and 0.3% phosphorus, whereas the minor fraction (eII) contained 66% protein in addition to 10% glucose and 17% rhamnose
[edit] Pathogenic Activity
S. mutans plays a major role in tooth decay, metabolizing sucrose to lactic acid. S. mutans is one of a few specialized organisms equipped with receptors that help for better adhesion to the surface of teeth. Sucrose is utilized by S. mutans to produce a sticky, extracellular, dextran-based polysaccharide that allows them to cohere to each other forming plaque.
