Elucidation of the settling of mutans streptococci to tooth-surface and the distribution using DNA fingerprinting.

本研究的目的是使用染色体DNA指纹（CDF）来证明变异链球菌在日本家庭中的传播。对来自20个家庭（20对已婚夫妇和36名儿童）的76名受试者的牙菌斑培养的1，940株菌株进行CDF分析，结果鉴定出150株菌株。每个受试者有一个或多个多达四个菌株，每个家庭有两个或多个多达八个菌株。在74株分离菌株中，母亲共有33株（44.6%），父亲共有23株（31.1%），双亲共有2株（2.7%），双亲不对应株（21.6%）。只有两个家系的亲本菌株具有同源性。C型占67.3%，D型占12.7%，E型占12.0%，G型占8.0%。C型仅占48.5%，而D、E、G型占87.8%。传播的菌株表现出较高的活性水平，不溶性葡聚糖的合成和疏水性比未传播的菌株。这些结果表明，变形链球菌不仅可以从母亲，而且可以从父亲和其他人。这也表明细菌的特性也可能参与传播菌株。

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the transmission of mutans streptococci in Japanese families using chromosomal DNA fingerprinting (CDF). The CDF analysis of 1,940 isolates cultured from the dental plaque of 76 subjects from 20 families (20 married couples and 36 children), resulted in identifying 150 strains. Each subject had one or more up to four strains and each family had two or more up to eight. For the 74 strains found in the children, 33 (44.6%) were common with their mothers, 23 (31.1%) were common with their fathers, 2 (2.7%) were common with both parents, and the remaining (21.6%) strains were not corresponded with both parents. Homological strains between parents were found in only two families. Of the differentiated strains 67.3% were serotype c, 12.7% were d, 12.0% were e, and 8.0% were g. Only 48.5% of serotype c, but 87.8% of serotype d, e, and g were transmitted strains. Transmitted strains showed higher activity levels for insoluble glucan synthesis and hydrophobicities than untransmitted strains. These results indicate that mutans streptococci can be derived not only from the mother but also from the father and other people. It also suggests that bacterial properties may also participate in transmitting strains.