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Enhancing the Virulence of Streptococcus sobrinus in Rats

University of Rochester, Rochester Cariology Center, Department of Dental Research, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642

W.H. Bowen

University of Rochester, Rochester Cariology Center, Department of Dental Research, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642

S.K. Pearson

University of Rochester, Rochester Cariology Center, Department of Dental Research, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642

J.L. Falany

University of Rochester, Rochester Cariology Center, Department of Dental Research, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642

The purpose of this study was to explore the virulence of strains of Streptococcus sobrinus that had been re-isolated from a desalivated rat. Furthermore, we wished to determine the influence of desalivation on the acidogenicity of fasting and sucrose-pulsed dental plaque in rats infected by strains of S. sobrinus. Experimental groups were formed and infected as follows: Group 1, desalivated animals, S. sobrinus ATCC 27352; Group 2, intact animals, infected as in Group 1; Group 3, desalivated animals, S. sobrinus re-isolated from a desalivated animal that had been infected with the ATCC 27352 strain for five weeks; Group 4, intact animals, infected as in Group 3; Group 5, desalivated animals, S. sobrinus re-isolated from a desalivated animal that had been infected with the ATCC 27352 strain for ten weeks; Group 6, intact animals, infected as in Group 5; Group 7, intact animals, no infection. All animals were fed cariogenic diet 2000 and sucrose-sweetened drinking water ad libitum. After five weeks, desalivated and intact animals that had been infected with isolates obtained from desalivated animals had significantly higher (p<0.05) smooth-surface-caries scores than did intact and desalivated animals infected with cultures of the original stock ATCC strain. Moreover, fasting plaque pH values were statistically lower in desalivated animals (Groups 1 and 3) than in intact animals (Groups 2, 6, and 7) (Tukey analysis, p<0.05). These data support the hypothesis that the pH values of plaque in desalivated animals are highly acidic and that lack of saliva may influence cariogenicity in at least two ways: the loss of inherent protective effects of saliva and the selection of cariogenic micro-organisms that exhibit enhanced virulence.

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 70, No. 1, 38-43 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345910700010601


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