The effects of cadmium on the growth of some oral microorganisms and their ability to bind cadmium.

All seven oral Actinomycetaceae tested grew in broth containing 10 microgram/ml Cd. After 24 hours' growth A viscosus WVU 626 bound nearly 20 microgram Cd/mg dry wt. The amount of Cd bound varied during the growth cycle, being maximal (90 to 100 microgram/mg dry wt.) after 5 hours' growth. Addition of 50 microgram/ml chloramphenicol to actively growing cells inhibited further Cd binding. In contrast S mutans FA1 was greatly inhibited by 2.5 microgram/ml Cd and bound only 1.3 microgram Cd/mg after 24 hours' growth in broth containing 2.5 microgram/ml Cd.