Skip to main content
PMC home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1981 Sep;33(3):690–696. doi: 10.1128/iai.33.3.690-696.1981

Oral ecology and virulence of Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus mutans in gnotobiotic rats.

S M Michalek, M Hirasawa, H Kiyono, K Ochiai, J R McGhee
PMCID: PMC350763  PMID: 6793515

Abstract

Lactobacilli comprise a small percentage of the normal oral microbial flora of humans and are isolated commonly from saliva and frequently from an active caries lesion. We have compared the pathogenesis and colonization pattern of Lactobacillus casei with that of Streptococcus mutans strain 6715 in gnotobiotic rats. Of the two L. casei strains tested, L. casei strain ATCC 4646 caused slightly more caries than L. casei strain ATCC 11578. However, the level of caries induced by either L. casei strain was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) than that observed in similar-aged rats monoassociated with S. mutans strain 6715. When groups of rats were infected with mixtures of L. casei strain ATCC 4646 and S. mutans strain 6715, or with L. casei followed by S. mutans, higher numbers of L. casei than S. mutans were found associated with the tongue and in saliva; S. mutans always predominated in plaque. The level of caries observed in these groups of rats was similar to that seen with rats monoassociated with S. mutans except when L. casei comprised greater than 1% of the plaque microflora. In this latter situation, the level of caries was significantly lower (P less than or equal to 0.05) than that obtained in S. mutans-monoassociated rats. The results of this study suggest that L. casei colonizes sites in the oral cavity (including the tongue and saliva) other than the tooth surface in rats. The effect of L. casei in plaque toward reduction of S. mutans-induced dental caries in rats is discussed.

Full text

PDF
690

Selected References

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

  1. Bowen W. H. Dental caries in monkeys. Adv Oral Biol. 1968;3:185–216. doi: 10.1016/b978-1-4832-3119-8.50013-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Carlsson J. Presence of various types of non-haemolytic streptococci in dental plaque and in other sites of the oral cavity in man. Odontol Revy. 1967;18(1):55–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Donoghue H. D., Tyler J. E. Antagonisms amongst streptococci isolated from the human oral cavity. Arch Oral Biol. 1975 May-Jun;20(5-6):381–387. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(75)90031-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Fitzgerald R. J., Fitzgerald D. B., Adams B. O., Duany L. F. Cariogenicity of human oral lactobacilli in hamsters. J Dent Res. 1980 May;59(5):832–837. doi: 10.1177/00220345800590051501. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fitzgerald R. J., Jordan H. V., Archard H. O. Dental caries in gnotobiotic rats infected with a variety of Lactobacillus acidophilus. Arch Oral Biol. 1966 May;11(5):473–476. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(66)90153-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. GIBBONS R. J., KAPSIMALIS B., SOCRANSKY S. S. THE SOURCE OF SALIVARY BACTERIA. Arch Oral Biol. 1964 Jan-Feb;9:101–103. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(64)90052-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gibbons R. J., Banghart S. Induction of dental caries in gnotobiotic rats with a levan-forming streptococcus and a streptococcus isolated from subacute bacterial endocarditis. Arch Oral Biol. 1968 Mar;13(3):297–308. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(68)90128-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gibbons R. J., Houte J. V. Bacterial adherence in oral microbial ecology. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1975;29:19–44. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.29.100175.000315. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gibbons R. J., Nygaard M. Synthesis of insoluble dextran and its significance in the formation of gelatinous deposits by plaque-forming streptococci. Arch Oral Biol. 1968 Oct;13(10):1249–1262. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(68)90081-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gibbons R. J., Spinell D. M., Skobe Z. Selective adherence as a determinant of the host tropisms of certain indigenous and pathogenic bacteria. Infect Immun. 1976 Jan;13(1):238–246. doi: 10.1128/iai.13.1.238-246.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gibbons R. J., van Houte J. Dental caries. Annu Rev Med. 1975;26:121–136. doi: 10.1146/annurev.me.26.020175.001005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hamada S., Slade H. D. Biology, immunology, and cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans. Microbiol Rev. 1980 Jun;44(2):331–384. doi: 10.1128/mr.44.2.331-384.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hirasawa M., Kiyono H., Shiota T., Hull R. A., Curtiss R., 3rd, Michalek S. M., McGhee J. R. Virulence of Streptococcus mutans: restoration of pathogenesis of a glucosyltransferase-defective mutant (C4). Infect Immun. 1980 Mar;27(3):915–921. doi: 10.1128/iai.27.3.915-921.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. KRASSE B. The proportional distribution of Streptococcus salivarius and other streptococci in various parts of the mouth. Odontol Revy. 1954;5(3):203–211. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Krasse B., Carlsson J. Various types of streptococci and experimental caries in hamsters. Arch Oral Biol. 1970 Jan;15(1):25–32. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(70)90142-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Krasse B., Edwardsson S., Svensson I., Trell L. Implantation of caries-inducing streptococci in the human oral cavity. Arch Oral Biol. 1967 Feb;12(2):231–236. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(67)90042-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Liljemark W. F., Gibbons R. J. Proportional distribution and relative adherence of Streptococcus miteor (mitis) on various surfaces in the human oral cavity. Infect Immun. 1972 Nov;6(5):852–859. doi: 10.1128/iai.6.5.852-859.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Loesche W. J., Rowan J., Straffon L. H., Loos P. J. Association of Streptococcus mutants with human dental decay. Infect Immun. 1975 Jun;11(6):1252–1260. doi: 10.1128/iai.11.6.1252-1260.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Loesche W. J., Straffon L. H. Longitudinal investigation of the role of Streptococcus mutans in human fissure decay. Infect Immun. 1979 Nov;26(2):498–507. doi: 10.1128/iai.26.2.498-507.1979. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. McGhee, Michalek S. M., Webb J., Navia J. M., Rahman A. F., Legler D. W. Effective immunity to dental caries: protection of gnotobiotic rats by local immunization with Streptococcus mutans. J Immunol. 1975 Jan;114(1 Pt 2):300–305. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Michalek S. M., McGhee J. R., Navia J. M. Virulence of Streptococcus mutans: a sensitive method for evaluating cariogenicity in young gnotobiotic rats. Infect Immun. 1975 Jul;12(1):69–75. doi: 10.1128/iai.12.1.69-75.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Michalek S. M., McGhee J. R., Shiota T., Devenyns D. Low sucrose levels promote extensive Streptococcus mutans-induced dental caries. Infect Immun. 1977 May;16(2):712–714. doi: 10.1128/iai.16.2.712-714.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Michalek S. M., McGhee J. R., Shiota T., Devenyns D. Virulence of Streptococcus mutans: cariogenicity of S. mutans in adult gnotobiotic rats. Infect Immun. 1977 Feb;15(2):466–471. doi: 10.1128/iai.15.2.466-471.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Michalek S. M., Shiota T., Ikeda T., Navia J. M., McGhee J. R. Virulence of Streptococcus mutans: biochemical and pathogenic characteristics of mutant isolates. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1975 Nov;150(2):498–502. doi: 10.3181/00379727-150-39064. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. ROGOSA M., WISEMAN R. F., MITCHELL J. A., DISRAELY M. N., BEAMAN A. J. Species differentiation of oral lactobacilli from man including description of Lactobacillus salivarius nov spec and lactobacillus Cellobiosus nov spec. J Bacteriol. 1953 Jun;65(6):681–699. doi: 10.1128/jb.65.6.681-699.1953. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Rosen S. Comparison of sucrose and glucose in the causation of dental caries in gnotobiotic rats. Arch Oral Biol. 1969 May;14(5):445–450. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(69)90137-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Rosen S., Lenney W. S., O'Malley J. E. Dental caries in gnotobiotic rats inoculated with Lactobacillus casei. J Dent Res. 1968 May-Jun;47(3):358–363. doi: 10.1177/00220345680470030301. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Van Houte J., Aasenden R., Peebles T. C. Lactobacilli in human dental plaque and saliva. J Dent Res. 1981 Jan;60(1):2–5. doi: 10.1177/00220345810600010401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Van Houte J., Gibbons R. J., Pulkkinen A. J. Ecology of human oral lactobacilli. Infect Immun. 1972 Nov;6(5):723–729. doi: 10.1128/iai.6.5.723-729.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES