Biology, Immunology, and Cariogenicity of Streptococcus Mutans.

INTRODUCTION 332 ORAL MICROBIAL FLORA 332 ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF S. MUTAINS AND OTHER ORAL STREPTOCOCCI ......... 333 Characteristic Properties of Oral Streptococci 333 S. mutans 333 S. sanguis 334 S. mitior 334 S. salivarius .............. 335 S. milleri ..... ... ............ 335 Selective Isolation of S. mutans ....... 335 CLASSIFICATION OF S. MUTANS 335 Immunological Typing of S. mutans 335 Serotype-Specific Antigens of S. mutans .... 336 Reactivity of S. mutans with Lectins .... ... 340 Cell Wall Structure of S. mutans and Other Streptococci .................... 340 POLYMER SYNTHESIS BY S. MUTANS 342 Extracellular Polysaccharides ............... ................. 342 Glucans... 342 Fructans ..... 344 Polysaccharide-Synthesizing Enzymes ............................... 344 Intracellular Polysaccharides ............................... 345 Lipoteichoic Acid ............................... 345 Interaction of Glucosyltransferase with Various Agents , 346 Invertase 347 a(1-6) Glucanase .............................. 348 SUGAR METABOLISM BY S. MUTANS ....................................... 348 ADHERENCE OF S. MUTANS 348 Initial Attachment of S. mutans to Smooth Surfaces ........................ 348 Interaction of Salivary Components with Streptococcal Cells ............... 349 Implantation of S. mutans , 350 Sucrose-Dependent In Vivo Adherence of S. mutans ........................ 350 Sucrose-Dependent In Vitro Adherence of S. mutans ........................ 350 Cell-to-Cell Adherence: Bacterial Aggregation .............................. 352 GENETIC ASPECTS OF S. MUTANS 353 Lysogenicity and Plasmids .................................. 353 Transformation 354 BACTERIOCINS OF S. MUTANS: MUTACINS ......... ..........,., 354 Bacteriocinogeny Among S. mutans .354 ExtracellularMutacins 355 IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF S. MUTANS ....................... ... 356 Distribution of S. mutans Serotypes in Humans ,, 356 In Vitro Effects of Antisera Against S. mutans 356 Immunological Responses of Host to S. mutans . ............................ 356 Possible Vaccination with S. mutans Antigens .................... ... .... 357 CARIOGENICITY OF S. MUTANS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS ............ 358 Caries Induction in Animals ................................................ 358 Noncariogenic and Supercariogenic Mutants of S. mutans ,.. 359 S. MUTANS AND DENTAL CARIES IN HUMANS ........................... 360 Effect of Sucrose on the Proportion of S. mutans ............................ 360 Epidemiological Relationship Between S. mutans and Caries Development .. 360