Products of Carbohydrate Metabolism of Actinomyces viscosus a 90 in Continuous Culture

Abstract

Actinomyces, ubiquitous in dental plaque, react very promptly to differences of type or concentration of substrates. Lactate, the dominant product under glucose excess, decreases markedly under glucose limitation, while formate, acetate and succinate increase. Addition of CO₂ is needed for succinate production and leads to a further reduction of the percentage of lactate detected.

Key Words:

• Glucose excess/limitation
• Acid pattern shift
• Carbon dioxide influence