Amylase-binding as a discriminator among oral streptococci
C W Douglas1, A A Pease, R A Whiley
1Department Oral Pathology, University of Sheffield, London, U.K.
FEMS Microbiology Letters
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Certain oral streptococci, including S. mitis, can bind salivary amylase, aiding in their identification. This discovery offers a new, reliable method for classifying these bacteria in dental research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Oral Biology
Background:
- Oral streptococci are a diverse group of bacteria found in the human mouth.
- Accurate identification of oral streptococci is crucial for understanding their role in oral health and disease.
- Current identification methods can be complex and time-consuming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ability of different oral streptococci strains to bind salivary amylase.
- To determine if salivary amylase binding can be used as a reliable characteristic for differentiating oral streptococci groups.
- To develop an improved identification scheme for oral streptococci.
Main Methods:
- Studied 51 strains of Streptococcus sanguis, S. mitior, S. oralis, and related groups.
- Grouped strains based on DNA relatedness and compared using 14 phenotypic tests.
- Assessed the ability of each strain to bind salivary amylase.
Main Results:
- Strains of S. mitis, S. mitior, and newly identified groups ('CR', 'MGH', 'Tufted mitior') demonstrated salivary amylase binding.
- Strains of S. sanguis and S. oralis did not bind salivary amylase.
- Amylase binding was consistent within groups and the test was reproducible, rapid, and easy.
Conclusions:
- Salivary amylase binding is a consistent characteristic differentiating certain oral streptococci.
- An identification key combining amylase-binding with other tests correctly identified 95% of strains.
- Amylase-binding assays show potential as a key diagnostic test for oral streptococci identification.
