MTM1 and infection: The results from our animal experiments show that isogenic mutant strains of TW871 defective in Cnm (TW871CND) or PA (TW871PD) did not aggravate NASH conditions, whereas infection with either of the complemented strains (TW871CNDcomp and TW871PDcomp) reproduced the aggravated NASH conditions, suggesting these cell surface protein antigens are important for S. mutans-related aggravation of NASH.