Genetic variation in the glucosyltransferase-B gene of Streptococcus mutans and its relationship with caries experience in children from Córdoba, Argentina, and with strains from other countries.

BACKGROUND: Caries is a worldwide distributed oral disease of multifactorial nature, with Streptococcus mutans being the most commonly isolated bacterial agent. The glycosyltransferases of this bacterium would play an essential role in the aetiology and pathogenesis of caries. AIM: We explored how the glucosyltransferase-B (gtf-B) gene variability of S. mutans from children in central Argentina correlated with their caries experience and how these strains were genetically related to those of other countries. DESIGN: Dental examinations were performed on 59 children; dmft and DMFT indexes were calculated. From stimulated saliva, S. mutans was grown and counted (CFU/mL). From bacterial DNA, the gtf-B gene was amplified and sequenced. Alleles were identified and their genealogical relationships established. Clinical, microbiological, and genetic variables were correlated with caries experience. Our sequences were included in a matrix with those from 16 countries (n = 358); genealogical relationships among alleles were obtained. Population genetic analyses were performed for countries with >20 sequences. RESULTS: The mean dmft + DMFT was 6.45. Twenty-two gtf-B alleles were identified here, which showed low genetic differentiation in the network. Caries experience was correlated with CFU/mL, but not with allele variation. Low differentiation was found among the 70 alleles recovered from the 358 sequences and among the countries analyzed. CONCLUSION: In this study, caries experience in children was correlated with the number of CFU/mL of S. mutans but not with the gtf-B gene variability. Combined genetic analyses of worldwide strains support the theory that this bacterium experienced population expansions, probably associated with agriculture development and/or food industrialization.

Covid-19 y la odontología latinoamericana para pacientes con necesidades especiales / Covid-19 and latin american dentistry for patients with special needs / Covid-19 and dental care for patients with special needs in Latin America

Resumen La región de América Latina se ha convertido en la más afectada del mundo por la pandemia del COVID-19. Y personas con necesidades especiales, población ya vulnerable, están sufriendo un impacto significativo de la crisis actual. Dado que estas personas no pueden dejar de ser protegidas y cuidadas, un grupo de profesores de 10 países de América Latina se reunió para analizar la situación de la odontología para pacientes con necesidades especiales en la región. En todos los países, se evidenció que el confinamiento y las restricciones de desplazamiento están interrumpiendo el acceso a bienes y servicios esenciales para ellos. En cuanto a la odontología, la disposición general es posponer los procedimientos de rutina, a menos que sean clínicamente urgentes o de emergencia; adoptar estrictas medidas de protección personal y evitar o minimizar las intervenciones que puedan producir aerosoles. La atención odontológica remota, teleodontología, se considera como una herramienta fundamental en este momento, ya que permite evaluar la necesidad de atención presencial y ofrecer soporte, información y seguridad a los pacientes y familias. La pandemia nos ha demostrado, a todos, que impulsar la Promoción de la Salud es el verdadero camino, y que no debemos esperar a que se presenten condiciones que afecten la calidad de vida.

Resumo: A região da América Latina tem se tornado a mais afetada do mundo pela pandemia do COVID-19. E as pessoas com necessidades especiais, população já vulnerável, estão sofrendo um impacto significativo da crise atual. Uma vez que essas pessoas não podem deixar de ser protegidas e cuidadas, um grupo de professores de 10 países de América Latina se reuniu para analisar a situação da odontologia para pacientes com necessidades especiais na região. Em todos os países se verificaram que o confinamento e restrições de movimento estavam interrompendo o acesso a bens e serviços essenciais para eles. Para a odontologia, a orientação geral é adiar procedimentos de rotina, a menos que seja clinicamente urgente ou emergencial; adotar medidas rígidas de proteção individual e evitar ou minimizar intervenções que possam produzir aerossóis. O atendimento odontológico à distância, teleodontología, é considerada uma ferramenta fundamental neste momento, pois permite avaliar a necessidade de atendimento presencial e oferecer suporte, informação e segurança aos pacientes e famílias. A pandemia tem demostrado, para todos, que trabalhar na Promoção da Saúde é o verdadeiro caminho, e que não devemos esperar por condições que afetem a qualidade de vida.

Abstract Latin America has become the most affected region by the COVID-19 pandemic in the world. People with special needs-an already vulnerable population-are suffering terrible consequences on account of this crisis. These people need to be protected and cared for at all times. Therefore, a group of lecturers from ten Latin American countries came together to analyze the regional situation of dental care for patients with special needs. Every country shows evidence that lockdowns and movement restrictions interrupt these people's access to essential goods and services. The general course of action regarding dental care is to postpone routine procedures unless they are clinically urgent or an emergency, implement strict personal protection measures and avoid or minimize processes that may produce aerosols. Remote dental care is considered essential these days since it allows practitioners to assess the need for face-to-face care and offer support, information, and safety to patients and families. The pandemic has shown us all that supporting health promotion is the true path and that we should not wait until conditions that affect people's quality of life appear to act.

Estudio de la estructura genética poblacional del S Mutans en niños / Update: study of the population genetic structure of S Mutans in children

Streptococcus mutans ha sido identificado como el principal agente etiológico de la caries dental. A pesar los avances en la odontología preventiva, continúa siendo una de las enfermedades mediadas por el biofilm más prevalentes en el ser humano. Si bien en lo últimos años su prevención se ha centrado en la implementación de medidas como el control de placa o la aplicación de flúor, el estudio de las características genéticas propiedades y composición del biofilm ha hecho que aparezcan nuevos conocimientos sobre la etiología y prevención de dicha patología. Es por esto que el objetivo de este estudio es realizar una puesta al día actualizada sobre la distribución de los distintos serotipos de S. mutans y su relación con la caries dental en la población infantil (AU)

Streptococcus mutans has been identified as the main etiological agent related to dental caries. Despite the development of preventive dentistry, dental caries is still regarded as one of the most prevalent biofilm-mediated human diseases. Although its prevention has been focused on measures such as plaque control or fluoride application, research on biofilm properties, genetic characteristics and composition has caused new knowledge about etiology and prevention of this patology. The aim of this research is to develop an update about the distribution of different serotypes of S. mutans and its association with dental caries in children (AU)