INDUCTION OF AGGREGATION IN STREPTOCOCCUS MITIS BY CERTAIN IONS

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Abstract
S. mitis ATCC 903 aggregated when suspended in salt solutions containing Zn, Al, La and Ce ions. This aggregation was very rapid as compared to spontaneous aggregation occurring in this strain. It was not inhibited by alkaline pH. Washed bacteria treated previously with Zn sulfate recovered and retained their ability to aggregate spontaneously at a slow rate. No such effect was observed with La-induced aggregation. The aggregates caused by La chloride were stable in NaCl up to 5 M concentrations. Magnesium sulfate dissociated these aggregates at 250 mM. Aggregation induced by Zn sulfate was less stable in these salts. The spontaneously aggregated cells were dissociated completely at 10 mM magnesium sulfate or 100 mM NaCl. Bacteria which had lost their ability to aggregate, owing to trypsin or .beta.-galactosidase treatment, were re-aggregated after addition of Zn, La or Al ions. Galactosamine inhibited the spontaneous aggregation and aggregation induced by Zn but not the aggregation induced by La or Al ions. The results provide a molecular model of induced and spontaneous aggregations where the 2 phenomena are qualitatively different.

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