DETECTION OF FIMA GENE FROM VIRIDANS GROUP STREPTOCOCCI (VGS) ISOLATED FROM ORAL CAVITY OF HEALTHY POPULATION

Abstract

Viridans group streptococci (VGS) are commensals of human oral cavity. They are the
major cause of native valve endocarditis in immunocompetent individuals. Among the
factors contributing to its virulence, its ability to adhere to host cells is considered to be
important. FimA is an important virulence factor which promotes the adherence of
bacteria to fibrin in vegetations of infective endocarditis (IE) patients. FimA is an adhesin
protein encoded by fimA gene. The aim of the present study was to detect fimA gene
among viridans group streptococci by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Viridans group
streptococci including S. mitis (11), S. salivarius(11), S. oralis(1), S. sanguinis(2)and S.
parasanguinus(1) isolated from oral cavity of healthy population were included in the
study. The fimA gene was detected by PCR. Of the strains, only one (3.8%) was positive
for fimA gene and it belonged to species S. parasanguinus. None of the other species
were positive for fimA gene. Although fimA gene is considered as a major virulence factor
and associated with IE, our data suggests that it may also be present in S.
parasanguinus strains isolated from oral cavity of healthy population.