Oral streptococci: modulators of health and disease

• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1357631
• Publication Date: 2024-02-22T06:00:46Z
• Authors: Susanne Bloch; Fiona F. Hager-Mair; Oleh Andrukhov; Christina Schäffer
• Keywords: Streptococcus sobrinus; Oral microbiology; Infective Endocarditis

Streptococci are primary colonizers of the oral cavity where they ubiquitously present and an integral part commensal biofilm microflora. The role streptococci play in interaction with host is ambivalent. On one hand, function as gatekeepers homeostasis a prerequisite for maintenance health - shape microbiota, modulate immune system to enable bacterial survival, antagonize pathogenic species. other also recognized pathogens, such Streptococcus mutans sobrinus , which trigger onset dental caries belong genus . In context periodontitis, excellent initial formers have accessory function, enabling late inhabit gingival pockets cause disease. potential fully unfolds when their dissemination into bloodstream occurs; streptococcal infection can extra-oral diseases, infective endocarditis hemorrhagic stroke. this review, taxonomic diversity streptococci, prevalence contribution disease will be discussed, focusing on virulence factors these species employ interactions at interface.