Genetic Diversity of Competence Gene Loci in Clinical Genotypes of Streptococcus mutans

Abstract
The frequencies of 21 competence genes were analyzed in 94 genotypes of Streptococcus mutans . These include those of a main regulatory system ( comCDE ), structural, and other regulatory orthologues identified in the genome of strain UA159. PCR and Southern blot analysis revealed that all genes are widespread within the species.