Utilization of Hydroxyapatite Adsorbable Salivary Proteins as Growth Substrates for Plaque-forming Oral Streptococci

Hydroxyapatite-treated clarified mixed saliva showed a marked reduction in growth-supportive activity for Streptococcus mutans. Isoelectrophoretic analysis revealed that proteins specifically attacked by S. mutans were among those adsorbed by HA. The proteins desorbed from HA-supported growth of S. mutans at levels comparable to untreated saliva.