Biomedical subjects
J van Houte
Publications and source records attributed to J van Houte.
On the formation of dental plaques.
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The occurrence of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis in the blood of endocarditis patients.
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Selective bacterial adherence to oral epithelial surfaces and its role as an ecological determinant.
The possible relationship between the ability of Streptococcus species to adhere to oral epithelial cells and their natural distribution on epithelial surfaces within the mouth was studied. Strains of S. salivarius and S. sanguis, which are present in significant proportions on oral epithelial surfaces, were found to possess a definite capacity to adhere to epithelial cells obtained from cheek scrapings of humans, hamsters, and germ-free rats. In contrast, strains of S. mutans, which are found in only minor proportions, if at all, on oral epithelial surfaces exhibited feeble or no adherence to oral epithelial cells. S. salivarius cells attached well to human cheek cells over the range of pH 5 to 8. Its adherence was not found to be markedly influenced by saliva or by growth in sucrose broth. Several other types of bacteria were examined which also exhibited widely different abilities to attach to human cheek cells. Mixtures of streptomycin-labeled strains were introduced into the mouths of volunteers for study of the adherence of Streptococcus species to oral epithelial surfaces in vivo. Labeled S. salivarius and S. sanguis were recovered in high proportions from cheek and tongue surfaces, whereas the proportions of labeled S. mutans recovered from these surfaces were low in comparison to the original mixture. These data indicate that a correlation exists between the relative adherence of various Streptococcus species and their proportional distribution found naturally on oral epithelial surfaces. The ability of bacteria to adhere to surfaces is proposed as a critical ecological determinant affecting their colonization in environments with open surfaces exposed to bathing fluids.
Cell wall thickening and intracellular polysaccharide in microorganisms of the dental plaque.
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Synthesis of iodophilic polysaccharide by human oral streptococci.
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Role of glycogen in survival of Streptococcus mitis.
Evidence has been obtained which indicates that the possession of glycogen by Streptococcus mitis favors its survival during starvation.
Iodophilic polysaccharide synthesis, acid production and growth in oral streptococci.
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Levan degradation by streptococci isolated from human dental plaque.
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The presence of dextran-forming bacteria, resembling Streptococcus bovis and Streptococcus anguis, in human dental plaque.
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Bacterial adherence in the mouth.
Studies of the adherence of bacteria indigenous to the human mouth have contributed greatly to our understanding of oral bacterial ecology. Bacterial adhesion to teeth and oral epithelial surfaces seems to be indispensable for the formation of dental plaque and for the persistent colonization of mucosal surfaces. The strength of adhesion to various oral surfaces differs widely among oral bacteria and is a major reason for their different intraoral localization. Considerable evidence suggests that the adhesion of different bacteria to the acquired pellicle on teeth or to mucosal surfaces as well as the adhesive processes involved in plaque accumulation entail different, specific interactions that are mediated by receptors on the bacterial cell surface, on the oral surfaces, and on plaque matrix components. Some of these interactions may involve lectin-like binding. Knowledge of the mechanisms by which suspected odontopathogens such as Streptococcus mutans and certain Actinomyces species may adhere to oral surfaces has been discussed. Successful methods for interfering with bacterial adhesion to human oral surfaces have not been developed yet.