Effect of culture medium on acid production from sorbitol by oral bacteria

The fermentation of sorbitol or glucose and the acid production by strains belonging to the genera Actinomyces, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus isolated from the predominant sorbitol-fermenting human dental plaque flora were studied in cultures in complex or defined bacteriologic broths and in saliva-based broth. The growth yields of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus in the saliva-based media and of Actinomyces in the defined broth were poor. Addition of fermentable carbohydrate to the saliva-based broth favored the growth of Streptococcus and Lactobacillus but not that of Actinomyces. The results showed obvious differences in the capacity of oral bacteria to ferment sorbitol between cultures in saliva-based and bacteriologic broths. Lactobacillus failed to utilize sorbitol when saliva was the only source of nutrients. Lower proportions of lactic and formic acids were formed from sorbitol by Actinomyces and Lactobacillus in the saliva-based than in the bacteriologic media. The findings illustrate some mechanisms possibly involved in the interactions between sorbitol and dental plaque flora.