Electron-microscopic observation of adherence of serotype c Streptococcus mutans to the enamel surface due to glucan synthesis.

Cellular adherence of three strains with water-insoluble glucan (IG)-synthesizing ability and a strain lacking the ability of serotype c Streptococcus mutans to the saliva-coated human enamel surface was examined by scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron-microscopy. SEM revealed that organisms of all strains used adhered directly to the enamel surface in the absence of sucrose. Cell-to-cell attachment was scarcely observed in the absence of sucrose. Cell-to-cell attachment via amorphous substance on the cell surface was observed by SEM when the strains with IG-synthesizing ability were incubated with the saliva-coated enamel in the presence of sucrose. TEM revealed that cell-associated enzymes of these strains synthesized filamentous and double-stranded fibrillar structures from sucrose. The strain lacking IG-synthesizing ability was unable to induce cell-to-cell attachment in the presence of sucrose, nor was it able to synthesize the amorphous substance. These results indicate that production of IG by cell-associated glucosyltransferase participates in cellular accumulation of serotype c S. mutans.