The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of modifying titanium surfaces, in terms of wettability, roughness, and mode of sterilization, on the ability of the oral bacterium Streptococcus sanguis to colonize. An in vitro model system was developed. All surfaces were colonized by the bacteria, but to significantly different levels. Titanium samples that exhibited rough or hydrophobic (...

A recent mathematical model (Freter et al., Infect. Immun. 39:686-703, 1983) provided a plausible simulation of both the mouse gut and continuous-flow mixed cultures. We show here that in certain circumstances Freter's equations are soluble, giving simple formulae that can be applied to particular problems without resort to computers or numerical simulation.

The plant endosphere contains a diverse group of microbial communities. There is general consensus that these microbial communities make significant contributions to plant health. Both recently adopted genomic approaches and classical microbiology techniques continue to develop the science of plant-microbe interactions. Endophytes are microbial symbionts residing within the plant for the majori...