title: Production of bacteriolytic activity in the oral cavity by nutritionally variant streptococci.
abstract: Microorganisms from the oral flora were examined for the production of bacteriolytic substances. Among human viridans group streptococci, only one group of strains with thiol-dependent properties was shown to secrete enzymes with bacteriolytic activity on heat-killed cells of Micrococcus luteus on double-layer nutrient agar plates. By morphology, culture requirements, and biochemical properties, they were found to conform to descriptions of nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS). Bacteriolytic activity was shown to be a constant property of all of the human oral NVS isolated and a property of some reference strains of NVS from clinical sources. No other known species of viridans group streptococci demonstrated bacteriolytic activity. Analysis of bacteriolytic activity could be a useful tool for both the isolation and identification of this fastidious group of microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Microbiologia, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pompei
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caredda
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pintus
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D009113:Muramidase