Pub of the day! I love research that forces me to think about the complexity of the human-microbe ecology. The current study examines Streptococcus mutans, a bacterial member of the oral microbiome that is commonly associated with CAVITIES. *So much dental interventions aim to target and remove/reduce S. mutans in order to control enamel/tooth health. * S. mutans can produce antimicrobial proteins called MUTANOBACTINS. S. mutans can get into your gastrointestinal tract via swallowing saliva.
S. mutans have been found to associate with the gastrointestinal bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis! E. faecalis is known as an opportunistic pathogen that is the LEADING cause of hospital-acquired infections! *E. faecalis can be found in the oral cavity, we assume due to the oral-fecal route because it is not commonly associated with the oral microbiome. This study found: S. mutans produces a unique…
