Detection of binding of denatured salivary α-amylase to Streptococcus sanguis

Native α-amylase, either solubilized, or immobilized and tested with an overlay immuno-technique, was bound in a species-specific manner to Streptococcus mitis and to one of the Streptococcus gordonii strains. However, only insignificant amounts of α-amylase were bound to Streptococcus sanguis and all other strains tested. When α-amylase was denatured before immobilization, Streptococcus sanguis bound strongly to the protein while binding of other strains was insignificant.