A Comparative Study Of Exopolysaccharides Produced By Planktonic And Attached Streptococcus Mutans

To elucidate the biofilm structure of Streptococcus mutans and the spatial distribution of exopolysaccharides in the biofilm. Compare the effect of different cultivation conditions (planktonic vs. attached) on the amount of exopolysaccharides produced by the Streptococcus mutans.The biofilm of Streptococcus mutans was prepared by allowing bacteria to grow on the surface of glass slide. Stained by BODIPY, a fluorescent stain, the biofilm structure was observed under the Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM).Marked with Calcofluor, another fluorescent dye, the exopolysaccharides produced by Streptococcus mutans were also visualized under CLSM.Anthrone Method was applied to measure the amount of soluble and insoluble exopolysaccharides produced by Streptococcus mutans cultivated at planktonic condition and attached condition.Streptococcus mutans can attach to glass surface and form the biofilms,which are composed of micro-colonies ,with channels acrossing it. Cells were embedded within the exopolysaccharides.They were sparse in the substratum area and surface layer but dense in the center. Adhensive Streptococcus mutans produced more exopolysaccharides than planktonic ones under varied sugar concentrations (P<0.05) .Based on the findings,adhensive Streptococcus mutans produces more exopolysaccharides, which plays an important role in the procession of biofilm formation.