Veillonella has the ability to adhere or coaggregate with a variety of species including both ________ and ________.

• A. Streptococcus and Actinomyces
• B. Streptococcus and Lactobacillus
• C. Actinomyces and Porphyromonas
• D. Veillonella and Streptococcus

Answer: (A)

Intermicrobial adhesion and coaggregation in dental plaque shows how Veillonella becomes a participant in a multispecies biofilm by pairing with multiple partners. Veillonella often attaches to early colonizers, particularly Streptococcus species, through specific adhesins, and it also coaggregates with Actinomyces species, which helps anchor it within the forming biofilm. This dual association with Streptococcus and Actinomyces reflects Veillonella’s role as a bridging organism: Streptococcus provides lactate that Veillonella can use, while Actinomyces offers additional attachment opportunities, reinforcing the plaque matrix. The other options don’t align as consistently with Veillonella’s well-documented coaggregation partners, since Lactobacillus is more related to later stages and acid environments, Porphyromonas is a later, subgingival-associated partner, and Veillonella with Veillonella isn’t a typical interaction.