Genotypic Diversity and Horizontal Transmission of Streptococcus mutans in Lower Socio-economic Caries in Active Children

Abstract

This reports provides glimpses on genomic diversity of Streptococcus mutants among school going children which may help in the development of new treatment strategies for dental caries in order to prevent disease and promote health in addition to standard prevention treatments. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the genotypic diversity and to investigate the transmission of Streptococcus mutans genotypes among school going children. It was observed that detection of S. mutans isolates with high genotypic diversity in different individual indicated occurrence of transmissibility. A total of 179 isolates of S. mutans from caries active subjects were obtained from saliva, dental plaque, and carious material, and identify by PCR. The isolates were submitted to AP-PCR to establish the genotypic diversity and transmission. RFLP technique was used only on those isolates which were showing identical amplitypes in AP-PCR to confirm the transmission. RAPD analysis showed the high diversity of S. mutans genotypes within lower socioeconomic school going children which might have experienced multiple infections. The occurrence of 4 isolates with 100 % genetic similarity is indicative of horizontal transmission. This study may be important for leading the development caries prevention program worldwide.