Table 1.

Eight newly sequenced mutans streptococci strains

Species	Strain	Short description
S. mutans	5 DC8	Serotype c, isolated from root caries by David Beighton (London, UK), alterations in 16S sequence in comparison to type strain.
S. mutans	AC4446	Serotype c, isolated from a proven case of infective endocarditis in Dillingen (Germany).
S. mutans	KK21	Serotype c, isolated from enamel caries of an adult by Susanne Kneist (Jena, Germany), potent producer of bacteriocin.
S. mutans	KK23	Serotype c, isolated from enamel caries of a child by Susanne Kneist (Jena, Germany), potent producer of bacteriocin.
S. mutans	ATCC25175	Type strain, serotype c, isolated from carious dentine, quality control strain.
S. mutans	NCTC11060	Serotype f, isolated in Denmark from a patient's blood (bacteremia), reference strain.
S. ratti	DSM20564	Type strain (= ATCC19645), serotype b, isolated from caries lesion in rat, nearest neighbor to species S. mutans with a 94-95% similarity on 16S level.
S. sobrinus	DSM20742	Type strain (= ATCC33478), serotype non-d & non-g, isolated from human dental plaque, 93% similarity with S. mutans on 16S level; considered as a relevant cariogenic species in human.

The species identities were determined by appliying biochemical testing (ATB 32 Strep) together with complete 16S rRNA gene sequencing.