The amount of extracellular insoluble polysaccharide produced by Streptococcus salivarius can be effected by some divalent cations. Calcium at concentrations of 1 × 10-3 and 10-4 M caused a reduction in polysaccharide synthesis. Magnesium at 1 × 10-3 M inhibited extracellular polysaccharide production but at 1 X 10-4 M had little effect. Manganese was without effect on polysaccharide synthesis. Zinc at 1 X 10-3 and 1 X 10-4 M caused a substantial increase in extracellular polysaccharide synthesis.
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