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Effect of inoculation sequence and nutrients upon Streptococcus mutans BHT and Streptococcus mitior LPA‐1 growing on human teeth in an artificial mouth
Author(s) -
Donoghue Helen D.,
Hudson D.E.,
Perrons C. J.,
Dibdin G.H.,
Rapson Gillian,
Shellis R.P.,
Wilson Constance M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1983.tb01296.x
Subject(s) - streptococcus mutans , inoculation , microbiology and biotechnology , dentistry , biology , chemistry , food science , medicine , bacteria , immunology , genetics
Human teeth in an artificial mouth were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans BHT, Streptococcus mitior LPA‐1, or sequentially with both organisms. Incubation was continued for 90 h. Mixed populations were largest when a nutrient supplement containing 5–0% (w/v) sucrose was supplied. Fewer organisms were recovered from experiments with synthetic saliva only, or when a supplement containing 0–05% (w/v) glucose was available. The inoculation sequence determined the total viable count and a larger population resulted when Strep, mutans was the initial colonizer ( P < 0–01). Strep, mutans was always able to become established even when super‐infected on to a 24 h plaque of Strep, mitior. The final proportion of Strep mutans was lower when it was the superinfecting organism and the sucrose ( P < 0–01) or glucose ( P < 0–05) nutrient supplement was provided. This work confirms the importance of inoculation sequence and presence of sugars in plaque accumulation and demonstrates the fundamental role of microbial interactions in this process.