Effect of para-aminobenzonic acid (PABA) on cell-surface hydrophobicity of Streptococcus mutans / 华西口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Para-aminobenzonic acid on cell-surface hydrophobicity of Streptococcus mutans.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons (MATH) was used to measure the cell-surface hydrophobicity of Streptococcus mutans which grew in modified Carlsson medium with different dilutions of PABA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cell-surface hydrophobicity of Streptococcus mutans increased when Carlsson medium contained low dilution of PABA. But following the increase of PABA, the cell-surface hydrophobicity decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Para-aminobenzonic acid could inhibit the adherence of Streptococcus mutans through changing its cell-surface hydrophobicity.</p>