Blocking the collagen-binding protein Cnm in Streptococcus mutans may prevent patients from developing infective endocarditis or coronary atherosclerosis. Streptococcus mutans, a predominantly hard tissue (tooth) colonizer, is considered the primary etiologic agent of dental caries, an infectious disease that affects 60 to 90% of the population worldwide. Streptococcus mutans was the most frequently detected bacteria in diseased heart valve tissues and atheromatous plaque, suggesting that S. mutans may play an important and underestimated role in the onset of cardivascular disease. It is not unusual for S. mutans to gain access to the bloodstream during dental procedures.
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