Actinomyces naeslundii (ATCC 12104) and Actinomyces viscosus (ATCC 19246) were radiolabeled externally (125I) or metabolically (35S) and analyzed for their ability to bind glycosphingolipids separated on thin layer chromatograms or coated in microtiter wells. Two binding properties were found and characterized in detail. (i) Both bacteria showed binding to lactosylceramide (LacCer) in a fashion...

Whole cells of Actinomyces naeslundii ATCC 12104, either in a dispersed form or in the form of plaque, enzymatically degraded sucrose to glucose and fructose. Washed whole cells expressed beta-fructofuranosidase specificity and hydrolyzed sucrose to essentially equimolar quantities of glucose and fructose. The cells readily hydrolyzed sucrose, raffinose, and Actinomyces viscosus or Aerobacter l...

Ammonia production from urea by ureolytic oral bacteria is believed to have a significant impact on oral health and the ecological balance of oral microbial populations. In this study we cloned and characterized the urease gene cluster of Actinomyces naeslundii, which is one of the pioneer organisms in the oral cavity and a significant constituent of supragingival and subgingival dental plaque ...

This study was undertaken to determine the antigenic relationships between serotypes of Actinomyces israelii with fluorescent-antibody (FA) procedures. In addition, the antigenic relationships between A. israelii and other members of the genus Actinomyces were studied by the same methods. Seven FA conjugates were used to determine the serological characteristics of 28 isolates believed to repre...

This study investigated the potential anticaries properties of synthetic 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives. Synthetic derivatives (2-4) were designed and synthesized by employing lawsone methyl ether (LME, 1), a plant-derived 1,4-naphthoquinone, as lead compound. The compounds characterized infrared spectroscopy, 1H-nuclear magnetic 13C- nuclear high-resolution mass spectrometry. Minimum inhibitor...