The degradation of starch by the oral streptococci.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty or Science, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.Two carbohydrates predominate in modern diets namely sucrose and starch. They are metabolized by oral microorganisms to products implicated in dental caries. The influence of sucrose and its metabolites is well documented but starches have received less attention. This study investigated the secretion of starch hydrolysing enzymes by oral streptococci and the production of sugars, acids and polysaccharides from the two ccmponents of starch, amylose and amylopectin. ( Abbreviation abstract )AC201