Mutans Streptococci counts from saliva and its protein profile in early childhood caries

AIM: This study aims to analyze the number Mutans Streptococci (MS) and its protein profile from the saliva of early childhood caries (ECC) and caries-free subjects. METHODS: MS counts were cultured from saliva samples, and the protein profile of MS was determined from ECC and caries-free subjects. The number of colonies were counted, and the protein bands with the molecular weight of 13, 29, 39, 41.3, 74, and 95 kDa were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method. RESULTS: We found that the number of colonies from saliva of ECC patients was higher than those caries-free (22.20 × 106 CFU/ml vs. 19.16 × 106 CFU/ml, p < 0.05). There are higher expression frequencies in protein 29, 39, 41.3, and 74 kDa of MS in ECC than caries-free subjects. CONCLUSIONS: There is the higher number of MS colonies and difference of MS protein profile isolated from saliva among children with ECC and caries-free counterparts.