title: Sensitivity of bacterial coaggregation to chelating agents.
abstract: Coaggregation between pairs of microorganisms was found to be inhibited by chelating agents, such as acetylacetone, citrate, EDTA and carboxymethylcellulose. Assays were conducted on eight pairs of periodontopathogens and one pair consisting of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The inhibitory effects of the chelating agents were reversible except for Actinomyces naeslundii 12104, the adhesin of which was irreversibly inactivated. Even though the bacteria possessed different kinds of adhesins, their sensitivity to chelating agents appears to be a common property. Non-toxic chelating agents, such as carboxymethylcellulose and citrate, may prove to be useful anti-adhesins.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taweechaisupapong
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Doyle
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D002614:Chelating Agents; D002951:Citrates; D004492:Edetic Acid; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium