# Frequency of Mutacin Gene Types in Streptococcus mutans Isolated From Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder (OPMD) Patients

## TL;DR

This study found that certain mutacin genes in Streptococcus mutans are more common in patients with oral potentially malignant disorders and dental caries.

## Contribution

The study reports the frequency of mutacin gene types in S. mutans isolated from OPMD patients, a novel focus in oral microbiology.

## Key findings

- S. mutans was more prevalent in OPMD cases (45%) than in healthy individuals with caries (15%).
- Mutacin I was most frequently expressed in OPMD and caries groups, while mutacin III showed 0% expression.
- Mutacin genes were absent in healthy individuals without caries.

## Abstract

Objectives

Mutacins are potent virulent factors attributing to the virulence in Streptococcus mutans leading to oro-dental diseases, and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are considered a premalignant condition of the oro-mucosal layers in the oral cavity. The purpose of this study was to phenotypically characterize S. mutans from the clinical samples of patients with OPMD and to assess the frequency of mutacin genes in comparison with healthy individuals.

Methods

Saliva samples (n=60) were collected from three different groups and the samples were incubated at 37°C for 48 hours in Mutans-Sanguis agar. After incubation, the isolates were identified phenotypically for S. mutans and the frequency of mutacin genes and its types were assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

S. mutans was found to be more prevalent in the OPMD cases (45%) followed by healthy individuals with caries (15%). Mutacin genes were expressed in all the groups except Group 3 (healthy individuals) without caries. Mutacin I was expressed the highest in Group 1 and Group 2 with 88% and 62.5, respectively, and mutacin III was expressed the least in all groups with 0% expression.

Conclusion

The findings of the study show the presence of mutacin gene types in the clinical strains of S. mutans in association with OPMD and caries. Further experimental evidence may be required to assess the frequency and to design a novel drug targeting the same.