Induction of aggregation in Streptococcus mitis by certain ions

Streptococcus mitis ATCC 903 aggregated when suspended in salt solutions containing the ions zinc, aluminium, lanthanum and cerium. This aggregation was very rapid as compared to spontaneous aggregation occurring in this strain. It was not inhibited by alkaline pH. Washed bacteria treated previously with zinc sulphate recovered and retained their ability to aggregate spontaneously at a slow rate. No such effect was observed with lanthanum-induced aggregation. The aggregates caused by lanthanum chloride were stable in sodium chloride up to 5 M concentrations. Magnesium sulphate dissociated these aggregates at 250 mM. Aggregation induced by zinc sulphate was less stable in these salts. The spontaneously aggregated cells were dissociated completely at 10 mM magnesium sulphate or 100 mM sodium chloride. Bacteria which had lost their ability to aggregate, owing to trypsin or beta-galactosidase treatment, were re-aggregated after addition of zinc, lanthanum or aluminium ions. Galactosamine inhibited the spontaneous aggregation and aggregation induced by zinc but not the aggregation induced by lanthanum or aluminium ions. In conclusion, the results provide a molecular model of induced and spontaneous aggregations where the two phenomena are qualitatively different.