Evidence for the transmissibility of human dental caries.
Strains of Streptococcus mutans, an organism strongly implicated in the aetiology of human dental caries, have been identified by means of a bacteriocin typing technique. Examination of family groups suggests that the organism can be transmitted intrafamiliarly thus supporting the notion that human dental caries is an infectious transmissible disease.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001430:Bacteriocins; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000635:transmission*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D001430:Bacteriocins