Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius) is a prominent oral commensal bacterium with probiotic potential and relevance to both oral and systemic health. Accurate and accessible methods for quantitative measurement of this species are needed to support microbiota studies and clinical interventions. We describe a simple, low-cost, culture-based method for quantifying S. salivarius in human saliva using Mitis-Salivarius Agar. Saliva samples from 18 healthy adult volunteers were analyzed through serial dilutions and selective plating. CFU (colony forming unit)/mL were calculated after 24 and 48 h incubation. The method proved reliable for quantifying S. salivarius in concentrations ranging from 5.8 × 105 to 6.1 × 108 CFU/mL. Although Mitis-Salivarius Agar is a standard medium, we demonstrate its systematic validation and optimization for human saliva in a low-resource clinical setting, where molecular tools are often unavailable.
Source: Life
DOI: 10.3390/life15111695
Authors: Flavia-Cristina Al-Akel, Lacramioara Eliza Chiperi, Krisztina Eszter Vas, Edit Szekely, Claudia Raluca Mariean, Corina Eugenia Budin, Anca Bacarea
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4415813236