Neuraminidase activity: a biochemical marker to distinguish Streptococcus mitis from Streptococcus sanguis.
Selected reference and freshly isolated strains of Streptococcus mitis (mitior) and Streptococcus sanguis were assayed for cell-associated neuraminidase activity by their ability to hydrolyze [3H-] sialyllactitol. A cell-associated neuraminidase was detected with S. mitis and S. sanguis serotype II (reclassified as S. mitis) but not with S. sanguis serotypes I and III. Neuraminidase activity of S. mitis correlated with this organism's inability to hydrolyze arginine, aesculin, and few, if any, sugars. The findings indicate that the presence of cell-associated neuraminidase activity is useful for the taxonomic classification of S. mitis.
D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D004929:Esculin / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005960:Glucosides; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007444:Inulin / Q000378:metabolism; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012703:Serotyping; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D005960:Glucosides; D012794:Sialic Acids; D004929:Esculin; C005696:salicin; C029412:neuramin lactitol; D007444:Inulin; D001120:Arginine; D009439:Neuraminidase