A total of 12 well-characterized strains of Actinomyces viscosus and A. naeslundii grown on Trypticase soy agar plates supplemented with sheep erythrocytes were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy after treatment with appropriately labeled antisera to homologous and heterologous strains. Cells incubated with homologous rabbit antisera followed by fluorescein-isothi...

Actinomyces uiscosus was fractionated into cell wall (PEL) and intracellular supernatant (SUP) fractions following ultrasonication. In vitro lymphocyte transformation induced by each fraction was assessed using the lymphocytes obtained from subjects with minimal periodontal disease. In kinetic experiments, a detectable blastogenic response to both fractions was measured by the fourth day, with ...

Group milleri streptococci that colonize the mouth and the upper airways are generally considered to be commensal. In combination with anaerobics, they are rarely responsible for brain abscesses in patients with certain predisposing factors. Mortality in such cases is high and complications are frequent. We present a case of fatal subdural empyema caused by Streptococcus constellatus and Actino...

Each of five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) prepared against the type 1 fimbriae of Actinomyces viscosus T14V reacted with a 54 kDa cloned protein previously identified as a fimbrial subunit. This purified protein completely inhibited the reaction of a specific anti-type-1-fimbria rabbit antibody with A. viscosus whole cells. Maximum values for the number of antibody molecules bound per bacterial...

The antimicrobial activity of four different dental gel formulas was evaluated on three microorganisms associated with cariogenesis: Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus casei and Actinomyces viscosus. The preliminary antimicrobial activity evaluation was performed using an agar diffusion method. In addition, the formulas were challenged using each microorganism with subsequent determinations of...

Five strains of Prevotella intermedia were examined for their ability to coaggregate with various gram-positive and gram-negative species of oral bacteria. Two of the P. intermedia strains coaggregated with selected Actinomyces species, P. intermedia 27 with Actinomyces viscosus T14V and Actinomyces naeslundii ATCC 12104, PK606, PK984, and PK947, and P. intermedia 113 with Actinomyces odontolyt...

The regulation of diethylaminoethyl-partially purified invertase (EC 3.2.1.26; beta-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase) from the 37,000 X g-soluble intracellular fluid of Actinomyces viscosus serotype 2 strain M-100 was studied. Glycolytic intermediates, mono-, di-, and triphosphate nucleotides, inorganic phosphate, and various divalent cations were tested for regulatory effects. Fructose-6-pho...

Several in vitro assay systems to measure the adherence of human dental plaque bacteria to solid surfaces such as teeth, glass, and hydroxyapatite have been published. In many studies a variety of macromolecular solutes have been used to study the adherence process. Often these solutes are able to aggregate the test bacterial and thus may alter the outcome of adherence experiments. In this stud...