title: A simple biochemical scheme for the differentiation of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus.
abstract: A collection of wild-type and reference strains of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus was compared using a set of fermentation and enzymic tests in order to establish a simple scheme for the differentiation of these two species isolated from selective media. Tests for the production of acid from N-acetylglucosamine, arbutin and melibiose, and the presence of alpha-galactosidase and alpha-glucosidase activities were useful in differentiating these species. Strains of Streptococcus mutans unable to ferment melibiose were also frequently unable to ferment other sugars; a consideration of the genetic control and organization of the genes involved in melibiose metabolism indicates that certain of the conventional characterization tests are not measurements of independent biochemical capabilities.
authors.affiliation: Hunterian Dental Research Unit, London Hospital Medical College, England.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beighton
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Whiley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D001671:Biochemistry; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002648:Child; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D008553:Melibiose / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000032:analysis; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008553:Melibiose; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase