INTERACTION OF HYDROXYAPATITE AND PROTEIN‐COATED HYDROXYAPATITE WITH STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS AND STREPTOCOCCUS SANGUIS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
S. mutans and S. sanguis behaved like negatively-charged particles in their interaction with hydroxyapatite in vitro. Phosphate in the system inhibited bacterial uptake by apatite, whereas Ca increased the uptake. A layer of acidic protein inhibited uptake of bacteria by hydroxyapatite. The opposite was true when a basic protein was first adsorbed to the apatite. A saliva film on the apatite decreased uptake of bacteria, and acidic proteins may be selectively adsorbed by hydroxyapatite from saliva. Electrostatic forces may be involved in bacterial interaction with tooth surfaces.