title: Identification of pioneer viridans streptococci in the oral cavity of human neonates.
abstract: Three hundred and sixty-seven strains of pioneer streptococci isolated from the mouths of 40 healthy, full-term infants during the first month of life were examined by two taxonomic schemes that incorporated biochemical and physiological characteristics, IgA1 protease production and glycosidase activities. Streptococcus mitis biovar 1 and S. oralis comprised 55.0% of the pioneer streptococci isolated from neonates. S. salivarius constituted 25.3% of the isolates, while S. anginosus, S. mitis biovar 2, S. sanguis and S. gordonii accounted collectively for 11.4%. Difficulties in identifying streptococci were encountered and 8.4% of the 367 isolates could not be assigned to a recognised species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Fitzsimmons
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wientzen
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins