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Infect Immun. 1974 May; 9(5): 794-800
Copyright © 1974 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

In Vitro Attachment of Streptococci to the Tooth Surface

Dag Ørstavik1, Frederick W. Kraus and L. Carolyn Henshaw

a Institute of Dental Research and Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294

ABSTRACT

The ability of Streptococcus strains to adhere to the tooth surface in vitro was investigated. Polished enamel slabs, with and without acquired pellicles, were incubated with buffer suspensions of oral streptococci, and attached bacteria were counted under a microscope using incident light. Low numbers of bacteria adhered to uncoated enamel; the presence of an acquired pellicle significantly enhanced the attachment of all strains tested. The adherence of Streptococcus sanguis was significantly greater than that of Streptococcus salivarius, and both of these strains adhered in greater numbers than did Streptococcus mutans. When bacteria were suspended in whole saliva, the adherence of S. salivarius and S. mutans was inhibited, whereas the adherence of S. sanguis was enhanced in some experiments and inhibited in others. The adherence of S. sanguis and S. salivarius was consistently inhibited by parotid fluid; this inhibitory effect persisted after thorough washing and resonication of the bacterial cells. Incubation in oral fluids was associated with the attachment of bacterial clumps to the pellicle, and parallel investigation revealed agglutination of S. sanguis and S. salivarius by whole saliva and, in particular, parotid fluid. The results are discussed in terms of surface microecology, and are related to the development of dental plaque.

FOOTNOTES

1 Present address: Department of Pathology, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo 4, Norway.

Infect Immun. 1974 May; 9(5): 794-800
Copyright © 1974 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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