Streptococcus mutans

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(New page: '''Streptococcus mutans''' category: CarboDB)
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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.
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{| border="1" style="text-align: left;"
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|+ '''Scientific classification'''
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!Kingdom || Bacteria
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|-
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! Phylum || Firmicutes
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|-
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! Class || Bacilli
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|-
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! Order || Lactobacillales
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|-
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! Family || Streptococcaceae
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|-
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! Genus || Streptococcus
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|-
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! Species || '''''S. mutans'''''
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|-
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! Binomial || ''Streptococcus mutans''
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|}
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==Surface Characteristics==
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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
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==Pathogenic Activity==
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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.
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==References==
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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus_mutans Wikipedia]
[[category: CarboDB]]
[[category: CarboDB]]

Revision as of 07:46, 8 July 2010

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.



Scientific classification
Kingdom Bacteria
Phylum Firmicutes
Class Bacilli
Order Lactobacillales
Family Streptococcaceae
Genus Streptococcus
Species S. mutans
Binomial Streptococcus mutans


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

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.


References

Wikipedia