[Bacteriocins of Streptococcus mutans: mutacins].

Abstract

A bioliographic survey about the production of a certain bactericidal substance (mutacins) by Streptococcus mutans has been done. The importance of bacteriocins of this micro-organism is due to its utility as a possible anti-caries agent performing as an influential factor in the colonization of the oral cavity, and also for serving for the typing of bacteria as an epidemiological "finger printing", determining the way of transmission of this micro-organism. Besides of stressing its clinical and epidemiological utility, we develop a review of other microbiological aspects.