Multiple changes in cell wall antigens of isogenic mutants of Streptococcus mutans

Isogenic mutants of Streptococcus mutans LT11, deficient in the production of the wall-associated protein antigens A and B, were generated by recombinant DNA technology. The hydrophobicity, adherence, and aggregation of the mutants were compared with those of the parent strain. These studies indicated that hydrophobicity, adherence, and saliva- or sucrose-induced aggregation were unaltered in the A- mutant but that hydrophobicity and adherence to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite were greatly reduced in the B- mutant whilst sucrose-dependent adherence and aggregation were increased. To determine whether these changes correlated with changes in the mutated gene product alone, the levels of a number of cell wall antigens were determined in each of the mutants. The loss of antigen A resulted in significantly reduced levels of wall-associated lipoteichoic acid, and loss of antigen B resulted in reductions in both antigen A and lipoteichoic acid. Data presented here thus suggest that changes in the expression of one wall antigen can have a dramatic effect on the levels of others.