Streptococcus mutans is one of the important bacteria that forms dental biofilm and cause dental caries. Virulence genes in S. mutans can be classified into the genes involved in bacterial adhesion, extracellular polysaccharide formation, biofilm formation, sugar uptake and metabolism, acid tolerance, and regulation. The genes involved in bacterial adhesion are gbps (gbpA, gbpB, and gbpC) and spaP. The gbp genes encode glucan-binding protein (GBP) A, GBP B, and GBP C. The spaP gene encodes cell surface antigen, SpaP. The genes involved in extracellular polysaccharide formation are gtfs (gtfB , gtfC , and gtfD ) and ftf , which encode glycosyltransferase (GTF) B, GTF C, and GTF D and fructosyltransferase, respectively. The genes involved in biofilm formation are smu630, relA , and comDE. The smu630 gene is important for biofilm formation. The relA and comDE genes contribute to quorumsensing and biofilm formation. The genes involved in sugar uptake and metabolism are eno, ldh , and relA . The eno gene encodes bacterial enolase, which catalyzes the formation of phosphoenolpyruvate. The ldh gene encodes lactic acid dehydrogenase. The relA gene contributes to the regulation of the glucose phosphotransferase system. The genes related to acid tolerance are atpD, aguD, brpA, and relA . The atpD gene encodes F1F0-ATPase, a proton pump that discharges H+ from within the bacterium to the outside. The aguD gene encodes agmatine deiminase system and produces alkali to overcome acid stress. The genes involved in regulation are vicR, brpA, and relA .

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bioflavonoids naringin on dental caries and periondontal disease in the albinorat. Twenty-five-day-old-male rats were fed the experimental diets for 42 days in this work at the end of the 42-day experimental period. The tooth surfaces were examined under a dissecting microscope. The sulcular caries lesions were recorded : the first molars were more affected than the second and third molars. Alveolar bone loss was measured on the buccal and lingual aspects of each molar: three site measurements (mesialpoint midpoint and distalpoint) were taken on the first molars. The results showed that the bioflavonoids, naringin had beneficial effects in the prevention of periodontal disease.

5종류의 식초(감식초, 포도식초, 사과식초, 고칼슘현미식초 및 현미식초)의 S. mutans에 대한 항균력을 조사하였다. 그 결과 감식초가 가장 높게 나타났으며 포도, 사과, 고칼슘 현미, 현미식초 순으로 나타났다. 감식초는 1.5%이상 첨가하였을 때 항균효과를 나타내었으며, 4%농도에서 균의 생육이 정지되었다. 투과전자현미경(TEM)으로 균 내부구조의 손상정도를 관찰한 결과, 세포벽 및 세포막이 파괴되었다. 각각의 식초에 대한 총페놀 함량을 조