 However in organisms like Vibrio cholerae and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, the "dam" gene is essential for viability.A knockout of the "dam" gene in "Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans" resulted in dysregulated levels of the protein, leukotoxin, and also reduced the microbe's ability to invade oral epithelial cells.Additionally a study on Dam methylase deficient "Streptococcus mutans", a dental pathogen, revealed the dysregulation of a 103 genes some of which include cariogenic potential.