Abstract:  

Streptococcus mutans, a cause of dental caries, is an opportunistic pathogen leading to subacute infective endocarditis and bacteremia. Bacterial attachment to heart valves, requires the presence of collagen-binding proteins (CBP), such as Cnm and Cbm; encoded by cnm and cbm genes, respectively. Herein, the prevalent S. mutans serotypes and genes for CBPs among diabetics and non-diabetic controls from Northern Jordan, were investigated. Tooth swabs were cultured on TYCSB agar for S. mutans isolation. PCR was used to confirm isolates? identity, and to identify isolates? serotypes and CBP genes. The most prevalent serotype among the diabetics was c (71.6%), followed by k (43.2%), f (32.1%), and e (13.6%). Among the diabetics, 44.4% harbored 2 or more serotypes. The most prevalent serotype among the non-diabetics was k (92.1%), followed by c (69.8%), f (25.4%), and e (15.9%). Among the non-diabetics, 92.1% harbored 2 or more serotypes. The prevalence rates for cnm and cbm were 75.3% and 11.1%, respectively, among the diabetics? isolates, and 38.1% each, among the non-diabetics? isolates. Due to high prevalence of serotype k and isolates harboring CBP genes, the Jordanian population maybe at risk for developing S. mutans-related complications, such as infective endocarditis.