Adsorption of saliva-coated and plain streptococcal cells to the surfaces of hydroxyapatite beads

This study was conducted to observe the differences between the adsorption of Streptococcus sanguis by saliva-coated and non-saliva-coated cells (plain cells) to the surfaces of saliva-coated, bovine serum albumin-coated or buffer-washed hydroxyapatite beads. Saliva treatment of bacterial cells altered the manner of saturation due to changes of affinity and/or the maximal number of adsorption sites on the hydroxyapatite beads. This result indicates that saliva treatment of bacterial cells might be a necessary step in testing bacterial adsorption to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads or saliva-coated teeth.