A streptococcal adhesion system for salivary pellicle and platelets.

A Streptococcus sanguis 133-79 adhesin identified by the monoclonal antibody 1.1 (MAb 1.1) binds both saliva-coated hydroxylapatite (sHA) and platelets. The complementary binding site(s) for the adhesin was identified by the anti-idiotypical MAb 2.1. To learn if this adhesion system, marked by the antiadhesin MAb 1.1 and anti-binding site MAb 2.1, is commonly used by strains within the sanguis group and other viridans group streptococci, 42 strains from seven species were tested. Strains that bind to both sHA and platelets use the same adhesin and binding site epitopes. Strains that do not adhere to platelets rely on other adhesin specificities to bind to sHA.