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. 1974 Apr;118(1):304–311. doi: 10.1128/jb.118.1.304-311.1974

Morphological Study of Streptococcus mutans and Two Extracellular Polysaccharide Mutants

M C Johnson 1, J J Bozzola 1, I L Shechmeister 1
PMCID: PMC246670  PMID: 4132251

Abstract

Two extracellular polysaccharide mutants of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 were obtained and examined. The mutants were distinguished by colonial morphology and by growth on and adherence to hard surfaces. A technique was devised which allowed these bacteria to be studied as they appeared when grown on a hard surface in liquid medium which contained sucrose. Negative stains, replicas, and scanning electron micrography clearly revealed differences in cellular aggregation due to the various extracellular polysaccharides produced. Comparison of sections of the adherent parent strain (GS-5) with those of the nonadherent mutant (GS-511) allowed the extracellular polysaccharide(s) responsible for adhesion to be visually localized.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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