Streptococcus gordonii (S. gordonii)

Streptococcus gordonii is a Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic bacterium that is a ubiquitous member of the human oral microbiome and a primary colonizer of dental plaque (Nobbs et al., 2009). As a member of the viridans group streptococci, it plays a foundational role in biofilm development by providing attachment sites for other oral bacteria through co-aggregation (Jakubovics et al., 2008). Although typically commensal, S. gordonii is a significant opportunistic pathogen and a frequent cause of subacute infective endocarditis, particularly following invasive dental procedures that allow the bacteria to enter the bloodstream (Park et al., 2020). The organism expresses several key virulence factors, including the surface adhesins GspB and Hsa, which mediate binding to human platelets and heart valve endothelium (Urano-Tashiro et al., 2016). Therapeutic management of S. gordonii infections generally involves the use of beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillin or amoxicillin, which target the bacterial cell wall (Baddour et al., 2015). In cases of endocarditis, these are often combined with aminoglycosides to ensure complete eradication of the pathogen from vegetations (StatPearls, 2023). Despite its clinical importance, S. gordonii is an organism rather than a specific molecular target, though its individual proteins are often studied as targets for anti-adhesion therapies.

Other names

Viridans group streptococciStreptococcus sanguis (related)S. gordonii

Bactericidal activity via inhibition of peptidoglycan cross-linking in the cell wall (beta-lactams) or binding to the D-Ala-D-Ala terminus of nascent peptidoglycan (glycopeptides).