The main thrust of this research effort is to elucidate what mechanism/s human dental plaque bacteria, especially the streptococci, utilize to colonize the tooth surface. The use of an in vitro adherence assay system which facilitates the quantification of bacteria adhering to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite is extensively utilized. Isolation of protein/s containing biologically active adherence blocking components from the cell surface of the oral streptococci has been accomplished. These surface components have a molecular weight of 70-90,000 daltons, and isoelectric points of 4.8-4.9. Functional and immunological relatedness of these cell surface components is being studied among and between the species of streptococci which predominate in human dental plaque. Additionally, growth of these streptococci in subminimal inhibitory concentrations of certain antibiotics seem to reduce the adherence levels of these microbes to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite without affecting the in vitro growth of these organisms. These studies suggest potential in vivo control of colonization by certain of these oral streptococci to the tooth surface, which could lead to effective control of dental caries and periodontal disease/s.
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| Liljemark, W F; Bloomquist, C G; Coulter, M C et al. (1988) Utilization of a continuous streptococcal surface to measure interbacterial adherence in vitro and in vivo. J Dent Res 67:1455-60 |
| Liljemark, W F; Fenner, L J; Bloomquist, C G (1986) In vivo colonization of salivary pellicle by Haemophilus, Actinomyces and Streptococcus species. Caries Res 20:481-97 |
