Production of bacteriocin-like substances by human oral streptococci.

A sample of human streptococci (mainly Streptococcus mutans species) from dental plaques was examined in order to evaluate the production frequency and activity spectrum of bacteriocin-like substances (mutacins). 89% of the 55 Streptococcus mutans strains produced substances with a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity. The bacteriocins produced showed a marked inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Among the Gram-negative species tested, only Neisseria sicca was inhibited by 25% of Streptococcus mutans strains. Also, 16 strains belonging to oral streptococci other than Streptococcus mutans, were examined for their inhibitory capacity against the same indicator. The authors stress the importance of mutacins production in oral ecology and Streptococcus mutans pathogenicity.