title: Cell-associated levan of Actinomyces viscosus.
abstract: Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987 was examined for the presence of cell-associated levan by absorption of myeloma proteins with antilevan activity and direct immunofluorescence. Levan was not detectable on the surface of glucose-grown A. viscosus, but after a brief incubation of these cells with 5% sucrose, they were encapsulated with tenaciously adhering levan. The levan layer constituted between 0.02 and 0.03% of the cell dry weight. In contrast, sucrose-grown A. viscosus cells possessed a low level of cell-associated levan, which was only moderately increased by incubation in sucrose and which partially existed as a loose slime rather than a tenacious capsule.
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013395:Sucrose; D005947:Glucose