[Preliminary screen of high cariogenicity Streptococcus mutans strains isolated from clinical specimens].

OBJECTIVE:To screen of high cariogenicity Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) strains isolated from clinical specimens preliminary. METHODS:Acidogenicity, aciduricity, extracellular polysaccharide production and adhesion of 41 strains of S. mutans isolated from clinical specimens were investigated to screen high cariogenicity S. mutans strains. RESULTS:There were different cariogenicity among 41 strains of S. mutans, in which 3 strains of S. mutans had all high ability to produce extracellular polysaccharide, adhere to the saliva-coated hydroxyapatite, produce acid and tolerate acid, indicated there were 3 strains with high cariogenicity S. mutans strains isolated from clinical specimens. Another 3 strains of S. mutans with all low ability to produce extracellular polysaccharide, adhere to the saliva-coated hydroxyapatite, produce acid and tolerate acid indicated they were low cariogenicity S. mutans strains isolated from clinical specimens. CONCLUSION:We may have obtained high cariogenicity S. mutans strains isolated from clinical specimens.