Phase Variation of Hyaluronidase-producing Peptostreptococci Associated with Periodontal Disease

Peptostreptococci isolated from diseased periodontal pockets produced large amounts of extracellular hyaluronidase throughout their growth cycle. Phase variants, obtained by re-streaking aged colonies of the wild types, had different colonial morphology and shorter generation times. These variants produced less hyaluronidase, and enzyme production occurred only during the early stationary phase.