Fimbriae of Actinomyces viscosus t14v: their relationship to the virulence-associated antigen and to coaggregation with Streptococcus sanguis 34.

Abstract

1) Fimbriae from A. viscosus T14V may be similar to those found on other bacteria. 2) The antigenic difference between virulent and avirulent A. viscosus T14 appears to be of a quantitative rather than a qualitative nature and is related to fimbriae and not to the cell wall polysaccharide. 3) Coaggregation between A. viscosus T14V and S. sanguis 34 is mediated by fimbriae on the former which have specificity for beta-linked galactosyl residues.