Use of Fluorescent-Antibody Technique To Identify Experimental Hamster and Rat Strains of Cariogenic Streptococci

¹ Department of Medical Research, National Children's Cardiac Hospital, Miami, Florida

Cariogenic streptococci, rat and hamster strains, do not belong to known Groups A through S as checked by standard grouping procedures. Cariogenic streptococcal antisera, rat and hamster, are immunologically specific, just as the organisms themselves are host-specific. The cariogenic streptococcal antisera were conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate. The conjugates were used to recognize unknown strains containing the same somatic antigen. Ratios of rhamnose to n-acetyl glucosamine do not help in distinguishing cariogenic streptococci. Preliminary work with other sugars, however, indicates that this may be a more promising avenue for investigation. The relationship of these results to human studies was discussed.