Analyses of pathogenicity of collagen-binding protein of S.mutans for cardiovascular diseases

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Streptococcus mutans is known as a major pathogen of dental caries and also to cause infective endocarditis. Recently, an approximately 120-kDa Cnm protein with binding properties to type I collagen was identified and we found that Cnm-positive S.mutans strains have a prevalence of approximately 10-20%. Furthermore, Cnm-positive strains were predominantly identified among serotype f and k stains, even though those are considered to be minor serotypes in the oral cavity. Cnm positivity may be an important virulence factor for vascular diseases because of the ability of such strains to bind to exposed collagen tissue.