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. 1989 Dec;57(12):3945–3948. doi: 10.1128/iai.57.12.3945-3948.1989

Spontaneous switching of the sucrose-promoted colony phenotype in Streptococcus sanguis.

G Tardif 1, M C Sulavik 1, G W Jones 1, D B Clewell 1
PMCID: PMC259931  PMID: 2530177

Abstract

Streptococcus sanguis on media containing 3% sucrose gives rise to characteristic hard cohesive colonies (designated Spp+). Populations of Spp+ bacteria (strain Challis) on sucrose media switch to a soft noncohesive phenotype (designated Spp-) at a frequency of 10(-4) to 10(-3). Spp- bacteria switch back to Spp+ bacteria at a similar frequency. Successive rounds of Spp variation were observed. The Spp phenotypic switch was associated with changes in extracellular glucosyltransferase activity.

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Selected References

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