| Abstract |
S. mutans known as a causative causative agent of dental caries was isolated from a carious lesion of Korean in the present study. The physiological, biochemical characteristics and polysaccharide pattern of these isolates were compared with those of four laboratory strains ; AHT(a), FA-1F(b), LM7(e), and OMZ65(g). One hundred strains of oral streptococci were isolated from dental caries sites of Korean (one male and one female). Among these, 3 strains were identified as S. mutans. These strains were able to grow on selective media MS, MST, MSP, MSP1, MSB, MSBT and were stained dark pink when sprayed with solutions of mannitol and TTC. So, these strains were called strain 108, 110, and 120, respectively. Strain 108, 110, and 120 were bacitracin resistant. As these strains contained particularly hippurate hydrolysis enzyme, they were distinguished from laboratory strains. Apart from laboratory strains, the strain 108 was not capable of fermenting lactose, the strain 110 was not able to ferment sorbitol, inulin, melibiose, raffinose and the strain120 was incapable of fermenting inulin, raffinose. All fractions of extracellular and ecll bound polysaccharide of the strain108, 110, and 120 were consisted of more glucan than fructan. Aside from laboratory strains, the isolated strains were composed of more water-insoluble glucans related adherence on solid surface than water-soluble. According to these results, the strain108, 110, and 120 had native characteristecs of S. mutans, but they were different from laboratory strains in some characteristics. Therefore, each of them was given a name to S. mutans KHC108, KHC110, and KHC120, respectively. |
