Antagonisms amongst streptococci from the human oral cavity

TL;DRAbstract

Antagonist production was found to be widespread amongst oral streptococci. The inhibitory agents were heterogeneous, varying in their sensitivity to heat, chloroform and catalase. They were dialysable and so presumably of low molecular weight. The antagonists have as yet been detected on solid media only. They inhibited a wide range of organisms, including staphylococci and corynebacteria, and occasionally inhibited their own producer strain. Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus salivarius appeared to produce acid as the sole inhibitor, and only on agar with added sugar. Both lactic and acetic acids, in varying amounts and proportions, were detected in the inhibition zones around these organisms. Strep. mitior, Strep. sanguis and viridans-type streptococci produced inhibitory levels of hydrogen peroxide and, when grown on glucose-supplemented agar, they often also produced inhibitory acid. It is suggested that a sugary diet profoundly affects the inter-relationships of plaque strept

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