Acid Production from Glucose and Sucrose by Growing Cultures of Caries-Conducive Streptococci

Abstract

Acid production was determined for several strains of caries-conducive streptococci growing on glucose and sucrose. The yield of acid per mol of sucrose was the same as that from two hexose units. It was determined by macroscopic and microscopic observations of the culture that extracellular polymer was formed from sucrose during growth, but the amount of sucrose diverted to polymer formation was less than that anticipated from visual observations.