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Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1991 May;59(5):1656–1660. doi: 10.1128/iai.59.5.1656-1660.1991

Glucosyltransferase gene polymorphism among Streptococcus mutans strains.

J S Chia 1, T Y Hsu 1, L J Teng 1, J Y Chen 1, L J Hahn 1, C S Yang 1
PMCID: PMC257898  PMID: 1826894

Abstract

Genetic polymorphisms in genes coding for the glucosyltransferases were detected among Streptococcus mutans serotype c strains by Southern blot analysis with DNA probes located within the gtfB gene (H. Aoki, T. Shiroza, M. Hayakawa, S. Sato, and H. K. Kuramitsu, Infect. Immun. 53:587-594, 1986). Restriction endonucleases were used to examine genomic DNAs isolated from serotype a to h strains. The variations were readily detected among 33 strains of serotype c by EcoRI and PstI restriction enzyme digestions. Serotypes e and f, which are genetically similar to serotype c, also had comparable polymorphism; however, serotypes a, b, d, g, and h did not hybridize to the same DNA probes in parallel experiments. Further analysis of enzymatic activities for glucan synthesis and sucrose-dependent adherence revealed no significant differences among the serotype c strains. Our results suggested that genetic polymorphisms existing in S. mutans serotype c strains may reflect a complexity in genes coding for the glucosyltransferases, which are produced ubiquitously in members of the S. mutans group.

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Selected References

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