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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 14 page discussion of the physiological mechanism employed by this species of oral bacteria which allow it to exist in the rapidly fluctuating pH levels of the human mouth. The author details how the cellular membrane of the organism is critical in this process, selectively allowing protons to pass out of the cell and preventing them from passing into the cell. This ability allows S. mutans a selective advantage. Acidogenicity (the ability to generate acid) and acidurance (the ability to function in an acidic environment) are the primary physiological traits of this organism which make it such an important factor in the production of dental caries as well. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Page Count:
14 pages (~225 words per page)
File: AM2_PPstrept.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
mutans is commonly associated with tooth decay. It is a bacteria which secretes an acid upon exposure to food material (Svensater, Sjogreen and Hamilton, 2000). The acid eats
away at the tooth enamel and results in cavities (Svensater, Sjogreen and Hamilton, 2000). Svensater, Sjogreen and Hamilton (2000) report that S. mutans also evidences an acid tolerance, a
response which can enhance survival even at a pH of 3.0. This response is critical to its survival in an acidic environment such as the human mouth. Dashper
and Reynolds report that acidogenicity (the ability to generate acid) and acidurance (the ability to function in an acidic environment) are the primary physiological traits of this organism which make
it such an important factor in the production of dental caries. These traits provide the organism with a selective advantage which allows it to successfully complete with other bacterial
organisms. S. mutans can even be distinguished from other species of oral Streptococci by its ability to thrive, indeed to grow and metabolize carbohydrates, in low pH conditions (Hamilton
and Buckley, 1991). The human mouth is obviously a difficult environment for an organism to inhabit. It is the home to a
number of compounds which interact with living organisms such as S. mutans in both beneficial and deleterious ways. Enzymes are one of these compounds. They are an extremely
important component of the digestive process. Enzymes formed by amino acids are the workhorses of an organisms physiology, they act to change substances without being changed themselves. Our
ham sandwich and milk is essentially a combination of proteins, lipids, and phosphate ions which combined form macromolecules. There are several forms of carbohydrates in our food. These
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