S.mutans is able to survive acidification of its environment due to adaptive mechanisms that appear to include the membrane-bound proton-translocating ATPase(F-ATPase).

• 口腔致龋菌的致龋能力主要是其产酸性和耐酸性,而ATP酶是耐酸性的决定因素,是变形链球菌等致龋菌的固有毒力因子。