Effect of glucose and sucrose on the survival in batch culture of Streptococcus mutans C67-1 and a non-cariogenic mutant C67-25. Morphological studies

Abstract

This study comprised an ultrastructural examination of a cariogenic strain of Streptococcus mutans, C67-1, and a non-cariogenic mutant of that strain, C67-25. The aim of the work was to define more clearly the relationship between S. mutans and dental caries and, more specifically, to elicit ultrastructural evidence for the conclusion from a previous investigation that the greater survival of the parent strain in sucrose broth at uncontrolled pH was related partly to the production in this medium of abundant extracellular polysaccharide (EPS). The strains were grown as previously in 5% (w/v) glucose or sucrose broths, the pH being either allowed to fall or maintained above 6.0, and processed by the thiosemicarbazide technique for election microscopy. It was confirmed that EPS was most abundant in the sucrose broth culture of the parent strain at uncontrolled pH. While the presence of abundant EPS relates to the greater survival of the parent strain in sucrose broth at uncontrolled pH, this organism possesses at least one other mechanism of survival in acid media, possibly dependent on cell wall properties, in view of its greater cell wall thickness and increased survival in pH-uncontrolled glucose broth in the absence of detectable EPS production. It is postulated that intracellular and extracellular polysaccharide formation, cell wall thickening and reduced viability were indicators of unfavourable growth conditions in the test media. Cariogenic strains of S. mutans appear to be able to survive better under such conditions and hence the prevalence of this and other polysaccharide-producing organisms in stagnant sites in natural dental plaques.