Adherence of Streptococcus gordonii HG 222 in the presence of saliva.

The influence of the presence of saliva from different salivary glands on the adherence of Streptococcus gordonii strain HG 222 to saliva-coated polystyrene surfaces was tested. In the presence of undiluted parotid saliva or diluted whole, submandibular and sublingual saliva the adherence of HG 222 was enhanced by the formation of small aggregates on the attachment surface. In the presence of undiluted whole, submandibular and sublingual saliva large aggregates were formed and the adherence to saliva-coated polystyrene surfaces was inhibited. Adherence in the presence of whole saliva compared to adherence in buffer was decreased when lower densities of bacterial suspension were used, although in this case in the presence of whole saliva smaller bacterial aggregates were formed. In conclusion, these results suggest that the presence of saliva in solution may both enhance and decrease the adherence of S. gordonii HG 222 to saliva-coated polystyrene surfaces, partly depending on the size of bacterial aggregates that are formed in the presence of saliva.