Caries Susceptibility Test:(Adapted from I. Edward Alcamao, Laboratory Fundamentals of Microbiology, 4th ed.)
A significant correlation has been noted between the amount of Lactobacillus in the saliva and an individual's susceptibility to dental caries (cavities). An estimate of the Lactobacillus population may be obtained by incubating saliva in a selective medium and noting the rate of acid production as a function of incubation time. The procedure is named the Synder test after its developer, Marshall L. Snyder. The test involves the growth of lactobacilli in Snyder test agar. This is a selective medium that has a low pH (pH 4.8) to inhibit the growth of other bacteria and the pH indicator bromcresol green. The indicator is green at pH 4.8 and yellow at pH 4.4 and below. As lactobacilli proliferate, the acid they produce causes a decrease in the pH and an accompanying color change. By reference to a standard table, an estimate of the Lactobacillus population may be made.
In today's lab we will perform a Synder test on our own saliva using the following procedure. |
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Lab 25 / Food Microbiology Introduction / Virtual Edge Home Please take a few minutes to fill out a brief survey about your experience using the Virtual Edge: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yGbkF0KM92WBSk-IgS-EkjxkTKTQwhzuXmDsVpwRDoU/viewform Please email comments/problems to cboggs@uwyo.edu |
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Rachel Watson, M.S. |
©2007 Christine Boggs & Rachel Watson