Activity of two Streptococcus mutans bacteriocins in the presence of saliva, levan, and dextran.
The extracellular dextrans produced from sucrose by Streptococcus mutans strains BHT and GS-5 did not prevent the synthesis or release of active bacteriocins by these two strains. In addition, several streptococci that were genetically sensitive to these bacteriocins, and that could synthesize a variety of extracellular dextrans and levans from sucrose, remained phenotypically sensitive when grown in the presence of sucrose. Bacteriocin activity was not altered by treatment with high-molecular-weight dextran or by human saliva. The bacteriocins produced by, and active against, S. mutans thus appear to be capable of acting in vivo and may play a role in regulating the bacterial ecology of the oral cavity.
D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002474:Cell-Free System; D003911:Dextrans / Q000378:metabolism*; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
D001430:Bacteriocins; D003911:Dextrans; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D005632:Fructose; D013395:Sucrose