ASSOCIATION BETWEEN STREPTOCOCCUS SOBRINUS AND HELICOBACTER PYLORI WITHIN THE 20-60 YEAR AGE RANGE

Objective: Dental caries and gum disease, along with their associated problems, harm human health. Streptococcus sobrinus bacteria are a major cause, forming the primary colonies in the oral cavity. The mouth is a key gateway to the digestive system, serving as a significant biological entry point for numerous microbes, including Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, which colonizes the gastric mucosa and causes serious upper gastrointestinal diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between S. sobrinus and H. pylori infection. Methods: Nephrometric immunoassay was used to assess antibodies, and the study also focused on the VITEK2/AST-P592 system, and 16S rDNA (PCR). Results: The infection rate was 7 (63.6%) in females and 4 (36.4%) in males. Furthermore, the results of immunological evaluation for antibodies to Helicobacter pylori in 11 serum samples from patients diagnosed with Streptococcus sobrinus infection showed that males were more susceptible to double bacterial infection (75%), while the double infection rate in females was 71.4%. Novelty: Streptococcus sobrinus bacteria were first isolated and identified in Mosul, Iraq and identified as a new strain, HAA5, registered with the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).