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Saliva from the major salivary glands dominates different areas of the mouth. The parotid (PS) and submandibular/sublingual (SMS) saliva differ in their protein composition, and thus, the composition of pellicles formed in various parts of the dentition might vary. In this study, proteins incorporated in 60–min pellicles from the premolar and front regions of the mouths of 4 subjects were examined using sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting using antibodies to amylase, albumin, IgA, parotid saliva agglutinin, low molecular weight SMS mucin (MG2) and proline–rich proteins. Pellicles formed in vitro on hydroxyapatite using PS, SMS and whole saliva from the subjects were examined in a similar manner. The pellicles formed in vitro and in vivo showed a major difference in the appearance of albumin. Bands of albumin were clearly stained in the samples of in vivo pellicles but were not observed or hardly visible in Western blots from the experimental, in vitro pellicles. The sites in the dentition from which a specific protein was recovered could differ between the 4 individuals. The overall protein pattern of the pellicles showed, however, characteristics typical of the saliva which may prevail in the part of the mouth where the pellicles were formed. Thus, parotid saliva agglutinin, a receptor for Streptococcus mutans, was primarily found in the premolar part of the dentition. The mucin MG2, which may mediate the adherence of Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus oralis, was in no case clearly seen in pellicles from the premolar region of the upper jaw. The observed variations might be important to the establishment of microflora and tooth–related disease patterns in various parts of the dentition.

Previously published data are conflicting about the effect of various factors on secretions from minor salivary glands. The aim of the present study was to investigate the secretion rate from palatal, buccal, and labial glands, and to analyze the immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in relation to age, gender, circulatory disease, diabetes, medication, smoking, and pregnancy. Resting and stimulated whole-saliva secretion rates, as well as IgA concentration in stimulated whole saliva, were also examined. One-hundred and forty two individuals (96 women and 46 men), 18-82 yr of age, participated. The results did not suggest any effect of aging on the secretion capacity of minor salivary glands, but the IgA concentration seemed to increase with age. Women had lower buccal and labial saliva secretion rates, and lower levels of IgA in buccal saliva, than men. For whole saliva, resting, but not stimulated, saliva secretion rates were reduced with age, and the secretion rate of stimulated whole saliva was lower in women than in men. The IgA concentration in buccal saliva showed a positive correlation with IgA in stimulated whole saliva, and the IgA concentration decreased with increased flow rate in both salivas.

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Objective This study evaluates the presence of virulence factors and antibiotic susceptibility among enterococcal isolates from oral mucosal and deep infections.Methods Forty-three enterococcal strains from oral mucosal lesions and 18 from deep infections were isolated from 830 samples that were sent during 2 years to Oral Microbiology, University of Gothenburg, for analysis. The 61 strains were identified by 16S rDNA, and characterized by the presence of the virulence genes efa A (endocarditis gene), gel E (gelatinase gene), ace (collagen binding antigen gene), asa (aggregation substance gene), cyl A (cytolysin activator gene) and esp (surface adhesin gene), tested for the production of bacteriocins and presence of plasmids. MIC determination was performed using the E-test method against the most commonly used antibiotics in dentistry, for example, penicillin V, amoxicillin and clindamycin. Vancomycin was included in order to detect vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains.Results Sixty strains were identified as Enterococcus faecalis and one as Enterococcus faecium. All the virulence genes were detected in more than 93.3% (efa A and esp) of the E. faecalis strains, while the presence of phenotypic characteristics was much lower (gelatinase 10% and hemolysin 16.7%). Forty-six strains produced bacteriocins and one to six plasmids were detected in half of the isolates.Conclusions Enterococcal strains from oral infections had a high virulence capacity, showed bacteriocin production and had numerous plasmids. They were generally susceptible to ampicillins but were resistant to clindamycin, commonly used in dentistry, and no VRE-strain was found.