Influence of arginine on the coexistence ofStreptococcus mutans andS. milleri in glucose-limited mixed continuous culture

Rogers, A. H.; Zilm, Peter; Gully, N. J.

doi:10.1007/bf02012940

Cited by 21 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…So too in the present study, EP and AP activities were increased in CDM-grown cells at high pH, particularly at 8.6. We have previously shown that in mixed continuous cultures of Streptococcus milleri and Streptococcus mutans grown at high pH, 5. milleri is essentially unaffected while 5. mutans washes out (14). This would be compatible with the likely production of plaque microenvironments of high pH due to ammonia release following the arginolytic activity of organisms such as S. milleri and S. sangttis (13,23).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…We have previously demonstrated, both in vitro (13,14) and in vivo (21), the ecological significance of arginine (Arg) utilisation by species such as Streptococcus sanguis, a prominent member of the dental plaque microbiota. Indeed, it has recently been suggested that the differences in the proportions of arginolytic bacteria could explain the differences in the acidity levels of the Stephan pH response of caries-active and caries-inactive plaques (23).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Some aspects of protease production by a strain of Streptococcus sanguis

Rogers

Zilm

Pfennig

et al. 1990

Oral Microbiology and Immunology

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Our previous studies indicated that Arginine (Arg) plays a key nutritional role in Streptococcus sanguis P4A7 and that this organism can grow on whole casein as the sole nitrogen source. Its protease activities were therefore studied after glucose-limited continuous culture in a chemically-defined medium with either free amino acids or casein as the nitrogen source. Both culture supernatant and cell-associated endopeptidase (EP) and exopeptidase (amino-AP and carboxy-CP) activities were determined. Growth rate (mu) had little effect on EP, 75% of which was consistently in culture supernatants; AP and CP both decreased as mu was increased and both were predominantly cell-associated. At high growth pH, EP was substantially increased while AP and CP activities were optimal at pH 7. The most striking nutritional effect occurred under nitrogen limitation (glucose excess) when EP and AP were greatly increased and CP greatly decreased. It was concluded that S. sanguis is well equipped to scavenge its environment for Arg under a wide range of growth conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Some aspects of protease production by a strain of Streptococcus sanguis

Rogers

Zilm

Pfennig

et al. 1990

Oral Microbiology and Immunology

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“…Steady-state levels of S. mutans, S. sanguis or "S. milleri" in mixed continuous culture could be regulated by the controlled addition of critical concentrations of glucose or arginine (Rogers et al, 1987a). Likewise, viable counts of S. sanguis or "S. milleri" could be increased, and those of S. mutans decreased, on the dentition of rats fed an arginine-supplemented diet, whereas the converse occurred when the diet was switched to one containing sucrose (Table 2; van der Hoeven et al, 1985).…”

Section: Prevention Of Low Phmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological Approaches to the Control of Oral Biofilms

1997

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Evidence that physiological strategies may be potential routes for oral biofilm control has come from (i) observations of the variations in the intra-oral distribution of members of the resident oral microflora, (ii) changes in plaque composition in health and disease, and (iii) data from laboratory model systems. Key physiological factors that were identified as significant in modulating the microflora included the local pH, redox potential (Eh), and nutrient availability. Increases in mutans streptococci and lactobacilli occur at sites with caries; growth of these species is selectively enhanced at low pH. In contrast, periodontal diseases are associated with plaque accumulation, followed by an inflammatory host response. The increases in Gram-negative, proteolytic, and obligately anaerobic bacteria reflect a low redox potential and a change in nutrient status due to the increased flow of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Consequently, physiological strategies for oral biofilm control should focus on reducing the frequency of low pH in plaque by (i) inhibiting acid production, (ii) using sugar substitutes, and (iii) promoting alkali generation from arginine or urea supplements. Similarly, strategies to make the pocket environment less favorable to periodontopathogens include (i) anti-inflammatory agents to reduce the flow of (and hence nutrient supply by) GCF, (ii) bacterial protease inhibitors, and (iii) redox agents to raise the Ehh locally. Most laboratory and clinical findings support the concept of physiological control. However, some data suggest that the ordered structure and metabolically interactive organization of mature dental plaque could generate a community with a high level of homeostasis that is relatively resistant to deliberate external manipulation.

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“…It can be used to determine the parameters, such as pH and nutrient availability, that limit growth. Information obtained in this way from pure cultures can then be used to explain why one organism becomes dominant over another under certain circumstances and to approach the relevant mixed continuous cultures in a more rational way (32).…”

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Aspects of the growth and metabolism of Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953 in continuous culture

Rogers

Zilm

Gully

et al. 1991

Oral Microbiology and Immunology

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Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953, a type strain of one of the newly proposed subspecies of this group of organisms, was grown anaerobically in continuous culture in a chemically defined medium. Its response to conditions of varying pH, nutritional environment, and imposed growth rate were then examined. The organism failed to grow at pH 7.8 but grew at pH 5.8, although the cell yield was greatly reduced. At pH 6.8 the cell yield was halved and less than 50% of available glucose was consumed. The optimum growth pH was around 7.4 when the culture appeared to be limited for both glucose and the amino acids glutamate, histidine and serine. Some intracellular polyglucose (IP) was produced and acetate, butyrate and ammonia were the major fermentation end-products, as they were under all growth conditions tested. Increasing the available glucose or amino acids did not alter cell numbers but the amount of IP was greatly increased. When glucose was omitted from the medium, the cell yield was halved and the culture then became limited for lysine as well as for glutamate, histidine and serine. Growth rate had little overall effect on the organism's physiology and the maximum growth rate at pH 7.4 was 0.20 h-1, a doubling time of 3.5 h. Glucose was thus channelled into stable IP synthesis only when the growth limitation imposed by lack of fermentable amino acids was relieved. The metabolism of IP and the ability to obtain carbon and energy from a variety of substrates may explain why F. nucleatum is one of the most commonly detected organisms in subgingival dental plaque.

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Influence of arginine on the coexistence ofStreptococcus mutans andS. milleri in glucose-limited mixed continuous culture

Cited by 21 publications

References 19 publications

Some aspects of protease production by a strain of Streptococcus sanguis

Some aspects of protease production by a strain of Streptococcus sanguis

Physiological Approaches to the Control of Oral Biofilms

Aspects of the growth and metabolism of Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953 in continuous culture

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