Streptococcus mutans

General Information

Streptococcus mutans is a fascinating microorganism primarily known for its significant role in dental health. This bacterium is a major contributor to dental caries (tooth decay) due to its ability to metabolize sugars and produce acid, which demineralizes tooth enamel. One of the most interesting aspects of S. mutans is its ability to thrive in the acidic environment it creates, which is detrimental to many other bacteria. This acidogenic and aciduric nature makes it a key player in the oral microbiome. Another unique characteristic of S. mutans is its capacity to form robust biofilms on the surface of teeth, commonly known as dental plaque. This biofilm formation is facilitated by the production of extracellular polysaccharides from sucrose, which helps the bacteria adhere to the tooth surface and to each other, creating a protective matrix. From a research perspective, S. mutans is valuable for studying microbial pathogenesis, host-microbe interactions, and the development of dental caries. Its genome has been sequenced, providing insights into its virulence factors, metabolic pathways, and potential targets for therapeutic intervention. The study of S. mutans has led to the development of various preventive measures, including fluoride treatments, dental sealants, and the exploration of probiotics to combat its colonization and activity. In summary, Streptococcus mutans is a key organism in dental research due to its role in tooth decay, its unique acid tolerance, and its ability to form biofilms, making it a critical target for improving oral health.

Streptococcus mutans is a significant bacterium primarily known for its role in dental caries (tooth decay). This organism is a member of the viridans group of streptococci and is particularly interesting due to its ability to metabolize sugars, producing acid as a byproduct, which contributes to the demineralization of tooth enamel. What makes S. mutans unique is its capacity to form biofilms on tooth surfaces, leading to the development of dental plaque. Metabolic Versatility: S. mutans can utilize a variety of carbohydrates, including sucrose, glucose, and fructose, which allows it to thrive in the oral cavity where these sugars are abundant. Its ability to produce extracellular polysaccharides from sucrose is particularly noteworthy, as these polysaccharides enhance its adherence to tooth surfaces and promote plaque formation. Genetic Adaptability: The genome of S. mutans has been extensively studied, revealing a range of genes associated with its virulence, acid tolerance, and biofilm formation. This genetic adaptability makes it a valuable model organism for studying microbial pathogenesis and the mechanisms of dental caries. Research Implications: Due to its central role in oral health, S. mutans is a focal point in research aimed at understanding the dynamics of oral microbiota and the development of caries. Studies on S. mutans contribute to the development of preventive strategies, such as vaccines and probiotics, aimed at reducing its prevalence and the incidence of dental caries. Furthermore, its interactions with other oral bacteria provide insights into microbial ecology and the balance of the oral microbiome. In summary, Streptococcus mutans is not only a key player in dental health but also serves as an important organism for research in microbiology, genetics, and public health.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Bacillota

Class: Bacilli

Order: Lactobacillales

Family: Streptococcaceae

Genus: Streptococcus

Species: Streptococcus mutans

NCBI ID

1309

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/009/738/105/GCF_009738105.1_ASM973810v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_009738105.1_ASM973810v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The bacterium Streptococcus mutans is primarily known for its role in dental caries, making it a significant contributor to oral health issues. It is a pathogenic organism that adheres to tooth surfaces and forms biofilms, leading to the formation of dental plaque. The metabolism of sugars by S. mutans produces acidic byproducts, which can demineralize tooth enamel and result in cavities. This process highlights its clinical relevance in the context of oral diseases, particularly in children and adolescents, who are more susceptible to caries due to dietary habits and oral hygiene practices. In addition to its role in dental caries, S. mutans has been implicated in systemic infections in immunocompromised individuals, where it can enter the bloodstream and potentially lead to endocarditis. This underscores the importance of maintaining oral hygiene to prevent the translocation of this organism into the bloodstream. Furthermore, S. mutans exhibits antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, particularly against certain antibiotics, which complicates treatment options for infections associated with this organism. Its ability to form biofilms also contributes to its resistance to antimicrobial agents, making it a challenging pathogen to eradicate in clinical settings. Interestingly, there is ongoing research into the potential use of S. mutans in probiotic applications, where certain strains may be beneficial in preventing the colonization of more harmful bacteria in the oral cavity. However, this area requires further investigation to establish safe and effective applications. Overall, Streptococcus mutans is a critical organism in the study of oral microbiology, with significant implications for human health, particularly in the prevention and management of dental diseases.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

Streptococcus mutans is primarily associated with the oral cavity, where it plays a significant role in dental ecology. This microorganism thrives in the biofilm that forms on tooth surfaces, commonly known as dental plaque. Its ability to metabolize sugars leads to the production of lactic acid, which contributes to the demineralization of tooth enamel, making it a key player in the development of dental caries (cavities). _Within the oral biome, _S. mutans interacts with other microbial species, forming complex communities that can influence overall oral health. It often engages in symbiotic relationships with other bacteria, such as Actinomyces and Lactobacillus, which can either enhance or inhibit its pathogenic potential. _The presence of _S. mutans is influenced by various factors, including dietary habits, oral hygiene practices, and the overall microbial diversity of the mouth. Its adaptability to different pH levels and its ability to form extracellular polysaccharides allow it to thrive in the dynamic environment of the oral cavity. _Overall, _Streptococcus mutans is a crucial organism in the oral biome, where it not only contributes to the health and disease of the teeth but also interacts with the broader microbial community, influencing the ecological balance within the mouth._

Industrial Application

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The microorganism Streptococcus mutans is primarily known for its role in dental caries, but it also has potential industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceutical development. One notable application is its involvement in fermentation processes, where it can be utilized to produce various organic acids, such as lactic acid. This acid is valuable in the food industry as a preservative and flavoring agent. In the realm of waste management, Streptococcus mutans has been studied for its ability to degrade certain organic materials, contributing to biodegradation processes. This can be particularly useful in the treatment of organic waste, where the organism can help break down complex carbohydrates, thus facilitating the recycling of nutrients back into the ecosystem. Furthermore, its enzymatic activity, particularly in the production of glucosyltransferases, can be harnessed for the synthesis of polysaccharides, which have applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. These polysaccharides can serve as thickeners, stabilizers, or even drug delivery systems. Overall, while Streptococcus mutans is primarily recognized for its pathogenicity, its metabolic capabilities offer promising avenues for biofuel production and biotechnological innovations, particularly in the development of sustainable processes that leverage its natural enzymatic functions.

Phenotypes and Predictions

The table shows the phenotypes and predictions. Cell colors indicate the class of the value. When literature-based data is available, a checkmark (✓) indicates a correct prediction, while an ✗ indicates an incorrect prediction.

Literature-based phenotypes: 10

LLM predicted phenotypes: 3

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro	google/gemma-7b-it	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	google/gemini-flash-1.5	google/gemini-flash-1.5	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	openchat/openchat-7b	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct
Motility	N/A	false	false	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false
Gram staining	gram stain positive	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain negative ✗	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓	N/A	gram stain positive ✓
Aerophilicity	facultatively anaerobic	facultatively anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Animal pathogenicity	FALSE	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗	true ✗
Biosafety level	biosafety level 2	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Plant pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Hemolysis	N/A	alpha	gamma	alpha	N/A	alpha	alpha	alpha	alpha	alpha	alpha	beta	beta	alpha	alpha	alpha	alpha	alpha	N/A	N/A	gamma	gamma	alpha	alpha	gamma	gamma	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	coccus	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓

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