title: Effect of protease on cell surface structure, hydrophobicity and adhesion of tufted strains of Streptococcus sanguis biotypes I and II.
abstract: Protease treatment of S. sanguis biotype I strains (AKI and CR311) and S. sanguis biotype II strains (CN3410 and PSH1b) reduced cell surface hydrophobicity of all strains by up to 87.7% and reduced adhesion to saliva coated hydroxyapatite beads (S-SHA) by up to 90%. All four strains carried lateral tufts of fibrils of two lengths on the cells. Tuft fibrils and hydrophobicity were lost simultaneously from S. sanguis II CN3410 when these properties were monitored simultaneously over 3 h. A ruthenium red positive layer, 37 +/- 6 nm thick, outside the cell wall of S. sanguis I CR311 was more resistant than the tuft to protease digestion. After 2 h of protease treatment tuft fibrils of S. sanguis I AKI and 311 were gradually digested while still on the cells, whereas most of the tuft fibrils of S. sanguis II PSH1b remained apparently undamaged on the cells, and tuft fibrils of S. sanguis II CN3410 were removed intact from the cell surface and found in the supernatant.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hesketh
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Handley
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases