Incidence of Tetracycline Resistance Genes, tet(M) and tet(O), in Streptococci Isolated from Dental Plaques of Koreans.
- Author:
Yeon Hee KIM
1
;
Si Young LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Oral Microbiology, College of Dentistry, Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, 210-702, Korea. siyoung@gwnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
tetracycline;
resistance;
streptococci
- MeSH:
Bacteria;
Dental Caries;
Endocarditis, Bacterial;
Humans;
Incidence*;
Mouth;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Prevalence;
Tetracycline;
Tetracycline Resistance*
- From:International Journal of Oral Biology
2014;39(1):9-13
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Streptococci are among the normal human microflora that populate the oral cavity. However, oral streptococci are known as a major causative agent for dental caries and bacterial endocarditis. Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is used for oral infections but two mechanisms of tetracycline resistance in streptococci have been reported. The tet(K) and tet(L) genes in these bacteria are related to the active efflux of tetracycline, whereas tet(M) and tet(O) confer ribosomal protection from this antibiotic. It has been reported that the tetracycline resistance of streptococci is related mainly to the activity of tet(M) and tet(O). In our present study, we examined the prevalence of tet(M) and tet(O) in oral streptococci isolated from Korean dental plaques using PCR. One hundred and forty eight of 635 isolates (23.3%) were tetracycline resistant; 68 of these strains (46%) harbored tet(M) and 3 strains (2%) were positive for tet(O). However, tet(M) and tet(O) did not co-exist in any of the resistant strains. Seventy seven of the 148 tetracycline resistant strains (52%) were negative for both the tet(M) and tet(O) genes.
