A MODEL FOR SALIVA-MEDIATED BACTERIAL AGGREGATION

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a model that was designed to dissociate the binding of salivary agglutinins to bacteria from the aggregation reaction to study the first step in saliva-mediated bacterial aggregation. In a method described in the chapter, whole saliva obtained with paraffin stimulation was clarified by centrifugation. Parotid saliva was collected with a modified Carlson–Crittenden device using the lemon drop stimulation. The initial phase in the aggregation sequence involved incorporation of agglutinins onto the bacteria. Incubation of bacteria with saliva led to a depletion of aggregating activity from saliva. The observation that binding of salivary agglutinins was inhibited by EDTA suggested that the agglutinins might be eluted from SIBs with EDTA. By using low temperature it is possible to dissociate the aggregation sequence into three distinct phases. Incubation of bacteria with saliva allows for the study of the binding reaction. The high affinity and specificity of this binding suggests the possibility of utilizing bacteria to purify salivary agglutinins.