Enhanced toxicity of copper for Streptococcus mutans under anaerobic conditions

Copper inhibition of 11 strains (serotypes a through g) of Streptococcus mutans was increased by anaerobic incubation. Anaerobic toxicity was reversed by cuprous, but not by cupric, chelators. Susceptibility to aerobic copper inhibition was related to serotype; serotypes c, e, and f (biotype I) were most sensitive.