FIG 3.

Salivary mucins reduce S. mutans attachment and biofilm formation. The addition of 0.3% mucins to the control medium, BHI containing 1% sucrose (SMedium), significantly reduces the levels of S. mutans attachment and biofilm formation on glass (A, B) and hydroxyapatite (C, D) compared to the levels obtained with the control consisting of BHI with 1% sucrose. Similarly, the addition of 0.3% methylcellulose to BHI with 1% sucrose reduces S. mutans attachment and biofilm formation; however, the effect is not significant for the majority of time points studied. Fluorescence microscopy was used to visually assess S. mutans attachment (E) and biofilm formation (F) on glass when the bacteria are grown in BHI with 1% sucrose and 0.3% mucins, BHI with 1% sucrose and 0.3% methylcellulose (Methyl.), and BHI with 1% sucrose. *, statistically significant difference from BHI with 1% sucrose determined by Student's t test (P < 0.02). Error bars represent SDs. Scale bars, 20 μm.