A STREPTOCOCCAL ADHESION SYSTEM FOR SALIVARY PELLICLE AND PLATELETS

A Streptococcus sanguis 133-79 adhesin identified by the monoclonal an tibody 1.1 (MAb 1.1) binds both saliva-coated hydroxylapatite (sHA) an d platelets. The complementary binding site(s) for the adhesin was ide ntified by the anti-idiotypical MAb 2.1. To learn if this adhesion sys tem, marked by the antiadhesin MAb 1.1 and anti-binding site MAb 2.1, is commonly used by strains within the sanguis group and other viridan s group streptococci, 42 strains from seven species were tested. Strai ns that bind to both sHA and platelets use the same adhesin and bindin g site epitopes. Strains that do not adhere to platelets rely on other adhesin specificities to bind to sHA.