Restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) was performed on the total cellular DNA from each of 396 strains of mutans streptococci (1) to determine its potential usefulness for the study of transmission of the organism and (2) to document the proportions and variety of strains harbored by members of a small group of families. The DNA was digested with restriction enzyme EcoRI and/or Hindlll, electrophoresed on agarose gels, and the resulting patterns compared. The strains examined included fresh isolates from 58 subjects, including 19 strains from each member of five families. The sensitivity and reproducibility of REA patterns from the mutans streptococci seemed ideal for studies of their epidemiology and transmission. The pattern of each isolate from humans was unique, except for isolates from the same individual or from the same family. REA types from subjects from different families were always heterogeneous. A high frequency of multiple REA types (up to 5) was observed in many subjects. While evidence for intra-familial transmission was obtained, including transmission between spouses, there was also strong evidence of frequent sources of infection outside of the family. Mutations of strains to streptomycin resistance or to lactate dehydrogenase deficiency caused no detectable change in the REA patterns. The lack of plasmids in any of the 57 fresh isolates that were examined for them suggested that they may have contributed little to the heterogeneity of the patterns seen.
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