BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND MULTI-DRUG RESISTANCE IN Streptococcus species ISOLATES FROM ORAL CAVITY

The human body is home to many indigenous microorganisms, with distinct communities at different anatomical sites.Recent studies have shown the importance of the gut microflora but its role in the oral cavity is one of the least appreciated topics in microbiology.With the application of modern approaches, further research can be applied in this valuable area.A total of 180 samples were collected from dental plaque/ carries of the oral cavity of students aged between 8-21 years.A total of 31 Gram-positive Streptococcus bacterial species were isolated and studied for various biochemical tests.Glucose was fermented by 45.16% isolates with the production of acid but no gas was produced.Other sugars like sucrose, fructose, maltose, mannitol, lactose, and sorbitol were also fermented by 16-45% of the isolates.The analysis leading to the production of enzymes by these isolates shows that they were capable of producing amylase, protease, catalase, and urease by 61.29%, 77.41%, 25.80%, and 58.06% isolates respectively.In the Antibiotic sensitive assay, none of the isolates were found to be sensitive to all the 16 antibiotics used for the present study.Penicillin-G, Cefoxitin, and Clavulanic acid were found to be resistant by all the isolates showing their Multi Drug Resistance nature.