CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GENOTYPIC AND PHENOTYPIC DIVERSITIES OF STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS IN AN ELDERLY POPULATION

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity of Streptococcus mutans present in the elderly with low and high DMFTs, and S. mutans isolated from healthy and diseased sites. In addition, serotyping, biofilm formation as well as innate immune response elicited by these clinical isolates were determined. We found that there were ten distinct genotypes of S. mutans in our study population. There was no clear associations between the genotypes with DMFT scores; healthy or diseased sites and biofilm formation capacity. However, S. mutans belonging to serotype E triggered hyper-inflammatory response in macrophages. This study showed for the first time that genetic diversity of S. mutans of different genetic and phenotype diversities exist in the plaque biofilm of the elderly.