Groundbreaking Research: Researchers sequence rare bacteria that cause rampant tooth decay
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So, I invited Dr. Paul Jensen to tell us more about his team’s work and to give us insights on the impact of this work on oral health research. Dr. Jensen is Research Assistant and Professor in Bioengineering at the University of Chicago Illinois. If you wish to leave a comment, ask a question, or make a suggestion to improve the content on our website, please feel free to send us an email at oasisdiscussions@cda-adc.ca or call our toll-free number 1855-716-2747. Until next time! Chiraz Guessaier, CDA Oasis Manager |
Highlights
Tooth decay, or dental caries, occurs when acid produced by oral bacteria demineralizes the tooth structure. The primary causative agents of caries are the Gram-positive mutans streptococci, including Streptococcus sobrinus. S. sobrinus occurs in 10 to 14% of carious lesions and is associated with the poorest clinical outcomes, especially among children.
No complete or reference genome exists for any S. sobrinus strain. The current draft genome for the S. sobrinus type strain SL1 contains 54 contigs. It is believed that the complete S. sobrinus genomes presented here are an important step toward understanding the genetic basis of cariogenesis by S. sobrinus.
Reference
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Full Conversation (7.07″)
That was very interesting. Thank you for the interview. I suspect the best treatment is toothbrush, tooth paste and sugar restriction rather than gene sequencing and vaccines.
Congratulations on discovering bacteria that can lead to tooth decay.Keep up the great work.