Open AccessInteractions between salivary agglutinins and strains of Streptococcus mutans with varying degrees of surface hydrophobicity
Author(s) -
Rundegren Jan,
Olsson Jan
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02013.x
Subject(s) - streptococcus mutans , microbiology and biotechnology , saliva , chemistry , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics
Subcultured variant strains of Streptococcus mutans serotype c with a decreased surface hydrophobicity were agglutinated to a lower extent by parotid saliva or salivary agglutinin as compared with their parent strains. The variant cells also absorbed less agglutinin than the parent cells. Strains of serotype of S. mutans , which had an unchanged surface hydrophobicity after subculturing, showed a similar degree of agglutination before and after subculturing. Thus, hydrophobic interaction seems to be involved in binding between S. mutans cells and salivary agglutinin. Caution should be exercised when interpreting results on saliva‐mediated agglutination using subcultured laboratory strains.