CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ADHERENCE OF PORPHYROMONAS-GINGIVALIS TO ORAL STREPTOCOCCI

Adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalis to strains of Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mitis deposited on nitrocellulose paper was investigated. A variety of laboratory strains and clinical isolates of P gingivalis bound to both S. sanguis and S. mitis. Binding of P gingivalis to all but one of the streptococci was not inhibited by salivary molecules. Pretreatment of P gingivalis with periodate and pretreatment of S. sanguis and S. mitis with pronase decreased binding, suggesting that adherence may be mediated by a protein on the streptococci interacting with a carbohydrate on P gingivalis. Binding was not inhibited by a selection of simple sugars. The ability to adhere to early plaque bacteria such as S. sanguis and S. mitis may be important in the colonization of the mouth by P gingivalis.