SEM Mucins (IMAGE)

American Society for Microbiology

SEM Mucins

Caption

The viscoelastic properties of mucus and saliva are attributed to mucins, large glycoproteins that play a key role in host defense and maintaining a healthy microbiome. Human salivary mucins protect teeth from dental cavities, which are primarily caused by Streptococcus mutans colonization.

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Photo by Nicole Kavanaugh.

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