title: Prevalence of transformable Streptococcus mutans in human dental plaque.
abstract: A total of 100 strains of Streptococcus mutans serotypes c/e/f and d/g, freshly isolated from dental plaque, were screened for their ability to undergo genetic transformation to streptomycin resistance. Of the serotype c/e/f strains, 28% were found to be transformable, whereas none of the serotype d/g strains could be transformed by donor DNA from streptomycin-resistant S. mutans strains of either serotype c or d/g. Two of the transformable serotype c/e/f strains were transformed by DNAs from a variety of oral streptococcal species commonly found in the microflora.
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D012703:Serotyping; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D013307:Streptomycin