Diverse activity spectra of bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances having activity against mutans streptococci

Mutans streptococci (MS) are known to be causative agents of dental caries. it has been suggested that these cariogenic bacteria could be eliminated f rom dental plaque by application of bacteriocins or bacteriocin-like inhibi tory substances (BLIS), In the present study 272 bacterial strains of the g enera Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus were tested for their production of BLIS activity against MS by use of a deferred antagonism test on agar media supplemented with either whole blood or yeast extract, Altho ugh only 14.3% of the test strains displayed anti-MS activity, the inhibito ry agents produced by these strains were characterised by considerable dive rsity in the range of their inhibitory action against both MS and other com mon oral streptococcal species. It is suggested that combinations of relati vely specifically targeted anti-MS BLIS may have potential application to t he prevention of dental caries, Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.