Isolation and Characterization of Streptococcus mutans Phage as a Possible Treatment Agent for Caries.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus mutans is a key bacterium in dental caries, one of the most prevalent chronic infectious diseases. Conventional treatment fails to specifically target the pathogenic bacteria, while tending to eradicate commensal bacteria. Thus, caries remains one of the most common and challenging diseases. Phage therapy, which involves the use of bacterial viruses as anti-bacterial agents, has been gaining interest worldwide. Nevertheless, to date, only a few phages have been isolated against S. mutans. In this study, we describe the isolation and characterization of a new S. mutans phage, termed SMHBZ8, from hundreds of human saliva samples that were collected, filtered, and screened. The SMHBZ8 genome was sequenced and analyzed, visualized by TEM, and its antibacteria

SUBMITTER: Ben-Zaken H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8147482 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature