title: Rapid identification of mutans streptococcal species.
abstract: Mutans streptococci are considered the predominant pathogens in dental caries. Three methods, i.e. dot blot hybridization analysis, PCR analysis and SDS-blue dextran-PAGE, were examined for identifying mutans streptococcal species. In dot blot hybridization, DNA probe derived from the dextranse gene (dexA) of Streptococcus mutans hybridized with different intensities under the condition of low stringency against each species of mutans streptococci although the dexA probe was specific for S. mutans under the condition of high stringency. Oligonucleotide primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were designed on the basis of the dexA DNA sequence. The primers amplified species-specific PCR products in the reference species (15 strains of 5 species) of mutants streptococci. An electrophoretic profile of dextranases from the mutans streptococci on SDS-blue dextran-PAGE also showed species-specific behavior. These results suggest that the three identification methods examined here are useful for distinguishing the species of mutans streptococci and also indicate that PCR analysis is suitable for simple, rapid and reliable identification of mutans streptococcal species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Microbiology, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D003910:Dextranase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D003910:Dextranase