Inventors:
Yihong Li - New York NY, US
Page W. Caufield - New York NY, US
Deepak Saxena - New York NY, US
Zhou Chen - New York NY, US
International Classification:
C12Q 1/68, C07H 21/00
Abstract:
Dental caries is a polymicrobial infectious disease. Of the hundreds of bacteria present in the biofilms coating teeth, the () remain strongly linked to caries and dental disease. () may serve a protective or antagonistic role against the cariogenic bacterium . In the present invention, exemplary sets of species-specific PCR primers are provided for the identification and quantification of and of in clinical samples, including the simultaneous and sensitive analysis of both bacterial species. Assays, kits and methods for determining the presence and amount of and/or are provided. Oligonucleotide probes and primers for use in the assays, kits and methods are described. Assays and methods for determining and evaluating an individual's oral bacteria, risk for caries, and effects of prevention and treatment modalities, are provided.