title: A DNA probe specific to Streptococcus sobrinus.
abstract: Three DNA fragments (SSB-1, -2 and -3) in the dextranase gene (dex) of Streptococcus sobrinus were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and used as DNA probes. The probes were examined for the specificity and the sensitivity of hybridization with DNA of oral streptococcal species. While probes SSB-1 and SSB-2 were specific to both S. sobrinus and Streptococcus downei, SSB-3 was specific only to S. sobrinus. SSB-3 was able to detect 5 ng of chromosomal DNA purified from S. sobrinus NIDR6715 and DNA extracted from 1 x 10(5) cells of the strain. In addition, SSB-3 could differentiate clinical isolates of S. sobrinus from Streptococcus mutans. These results suggest that SSB-3 is an effective DNA-probe to detect and to identify S. sobrinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Showa University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ida
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
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sasa
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003910:Dextranase / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000235:genetics; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D003910:Dextranase