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Biomedical subjects

J Slots

Publications and source records attributed to J Slots.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Salient Biochemical Characters of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

A total of 136 strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans were studied for 135 features. All isolates were small nonmotile capnophilic gram-negative rods which grew with no requirement of X or V growth factors. They all decomposed hydrogen peroxide, were oxidase-negative and benzidine-positive, reduced nitrate, produced strong alkaline and acid phosphatases, and fermented fructose, glucose and mannose. Variable fermentation results were obtained with dextrin, maltose, mannitol and xylose. Some isolates produced small amounts of gas. Representative strains of Haemophilus aphrophilus were morphologically and biochemically quite similar to A. actinomycetemcomitans. Characters which should prove to be useful to identify and distinguish these two species include catalase reaction. fermentation of lactose, starch, sucrose and trehalose, and resistance to sodium fluoride. This information allows a rapid diagnosis by species and may be helpful in studies of infections involving these organisms.

Actinobacillus↗

Beta-lactamase producing bacteria in the human oral cavity.

Twenty-six individuals who had no history of long-term antibiotic therapy were examined for the prevalence of beta-lactamase producing bacteria in the oral cavity. Samples from a total of 159 normal and diseased periodontal sites, 44 cheek mucosae, 22 tongue dorsa and 22 salivas were studied. Penicillin resistant organisms were recovered from Trypticase soy blood agar plates containing 1.3 microgram/ml or 2 microgram/ml Benzylpenicillin. Beta-lactamase formation by these isolates was determined using a micro-iodometric assay. Low levels of penicillin resistant organisms were found in all samples. Approximately 10% of the samples yielded Beta-lactamase producing strains. Except for a few Veillonella parvula strains, all Beta-lactamase forming isolates were members of the Bacteroides melaninogenicus subspecies melaninogenicus - Bacteroides oralis group of organisms. These species can produce severe infections and, therefore, the present findings may be important in the clinical management of oral and nonoral infection.

Adult↗

Selective medium for isolation of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

A selective medium, TSBV (tryptic soy-serum-bacitracin-vancomycin) agar, was developed for the isolation of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, TSBV agar contained (per liter) 40 g of tryptic soy agar, 1 g of yeast extract, 100 ml of horse serum. 75 mg of bacitracin, and 5 mg of vancomycin. The TSBV medium suppressed most oral species and permitted significantly higher recovery of A. actinomycetemcomitans than nonselective blood agar medium. The distinct colonial morphology and positive catalase reaction of A. actinomycetemcomitans easily distinguished this bacterium from Haemophilus aphrophilus, Capnocytophaga species, and a few other contaminating organisms. With the TSBV medium, even modestly equipped laboratories will be able to isolate and identify A. actinomycetemcomitans from clinical specimens.

Actinobacillus↗

Long-wave UV light fluorescence for identification of black-pigmented Bacteroides spp.

Black-pigmented Bacteroides strains were grown on blood agar, and the colonies were evaluated for fluorescence from long-wave UV light. Most test strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius exhibited a brilliant red fluorescence. B. melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus fluoresced mostly red-orange. Bacteroides asaccharolyticus showed a yellow or red fluorescence. The intensity of the Bacteroides fluorescence weakened when the black pigment of the colonies developed. In contrast, neither young nor old colonies of the oral species Bacteroides gingivalis displayed fluorescence. Since B. gingivalis can produce severe oral infections and also can seed to nonoral sites, awareness of the inability of this organism to fluoresce is important for microbiologists utilizing UV light fluorescence to screen for black-pigmented Bacteroides spp. The present data also indicate that UV light fluorescence may be a rapid method of distinguishing some black-pigmented Bacteroides spp.

Bacteroides↗

Inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis by soluble bacterial products.

BACTERIAL-NEUTROPHIL INTERACTIONS may be critical determinants of virulence in periodontal diseases. This study was undertaken to examine the ability of major bacterial species from the human oral cavity to inhibit (1) peripheral blood neutrophil chemotaxis, (2) chemotactic formylmethionyl peptide binding, and (3) phagocytosis. Included were cultured supernatants and sonic extracts obtained from strains of Capnocytophaga, Bacteroides gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Capnocytophaga species, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Neisseria, Actinomyces viscosus, Bacterionema matruchotii, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans, and Streptococcus sanguis. Chemotaxis was measured using Boyden chambers; phagocytosis was determined using Staphylococcus aureus as the indicator organism and radioactive chemotactic peptide binding was assessed by a rapid filtration assay. None of the test organisms were cytotoxic to neutrophils or inhibited neutrophil phagocytosis. Capnocytophaga species., Bacteroides species., A. actinomycetemcomitans, and F. nucleatum produced factors which specifically inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis. Activity was lost after dialysis. Extracts of Bacteroides species, A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum, which were not chemotactic by themselves, inhibited binding of chemotactic peptide suggesting that in vitro chemotaxis inhibition was mediated by nonchemotactic components that compete for the chemotactic factor receptor on the neutrophil. The exception was Capnocytophaga which appeared to inhibit chemotaxis by inhibition of a post-binding event. Such chemotactic inhibitors from periodontopathic organisms that inhibit neutrophil function may be important determinants of virulence.

Bacteria↗

The effect of short-term administration of minocycline HCl on gingival inflammation and subgingival microflora.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the efficacy of minocycline hydrochloride in the management of subgingival microorganisms and periodontal disease. In a double-blind, split-mouth study, minocycline or placebo was administered systemically for 7 days to 26 adults with moderate-to-serve periodontitis. Four study groups were examined: (i) minocycline-scaled, (ii) minocycline-unscaled, (iii) placebo-scaled, and (iv) placebo-unscaled. The minocycline-scaled group responded most favorably, with improved gingival health for at least 49 days and with marked reductions in total bacterial counts and proportions of spirochetes for at least 70 days (termination of the study). Minocycline administration with no periodontal scaling and root planing also resulted major, long-lasting shifts in the subgingival microflora. Scaling alone was least effective in changing the microflora. The data indicated that minocycline may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of periodontal disease. Further studies are needed, however, to determine the long-term effect of minocycline therapy on the periodontal attachment level.

Adult↗

Serum antibodies to oral Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (Bacteroides gingivalis): relationship to age and periondontal disease.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay microplate method was used for measuring levels of antibody specific for the oral serotype of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (Bacteroides gingivalis) in serum samples obtained from umbilical cords, infants, children, periodontally normal adults, and edentulous adults. Serum from patients with various periodontal diseases, including adult periodontitis, localized juvenile periodontitis, generalized juvenile periodontitis, post-localized juvenile periodontitis, and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, were also studied. A positive correlation between increase in age and increase in both prevalence and level of specific antibody in the G, A, and M classes of immunoglobulins was observed. This indicates that antibodies reactive with oral B. asaccharolyticus found in up to 84% of normal adults are natural antibodies, presumably with a protective role. Among the patient groups, those with adult periodontitis were found to have levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies to oral B. asaccharolyticus that were five times higher than the antibody levels found in control subjects. The levels of IgG antibodies to this organism in the other patient groups were comparable to the levels found in the control group. However, 50% of the individuals in the generalized juvenile periodontitis group had high levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies to B. asaccharolyticus, suggesting heterogeneity with respect to immune response in these patients. These results indicate that antibodies to oral B. asaccharolyticus (B. gingivalis) occur at low levels in most normal children and adults and that the rise in titer of the specific antibodies of each major class of immunoglobulins parallels the ontogenic change in serum levels of that isotype. In contrast, there is a marked increase in titer of immunoglobulin G antibodies to oral B. asaccharolyticus in the group of patients with adult periodontitis and in patients with the generalized form of juvenile periodontitis.

Adult↗

Black-pigmented Bacteroides spp. in the human oral cavity.

Five healthy children under 6 years of age, five healthy adults, and 10 adult periodontitis patients were examined for the prevalence and distribution of black-pigmented Bacteroides in the oral cavity. A total of 13 samples was obtained from each individual, including four supragingival and four subgingival dental plaques, dental occlusal surface, buccal mucosa, dorsal tongue, tonsil, and whole saliva. Black-pigmented Bacteroides were recovered from nine adult periodontitis patients. Healthy adults harbored the organisms in low incidence and proportions, whereas the children exhibited no cultivable black-pigmented Bacteroides. The organisms were isolated in highest proportions from dental plaque, especially subgingival plaque, and from the tonsil area, indicating that these sites constitute the organisms' primary ecological niche in the oral cavity. The predominant isolate was Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius followed by Bacteroides gingivalis and B. melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus. B. melaninogenicus subsp. levii constituted low proportions of supragingival microflora of one adult periodontitis patient. A positive correlation was demonstrated between the proportion of black-pigmented Bacteroides (mainly B. melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius) and both the severity of gingival inflammation and the periodontal pocket depth, suggesting that these organisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of certain forms of periodontal disease.

Adult↗

Enzymatic characterization of some oral and nonoral gram-negative bacteria with the API ZYM system.

The API ZYM system (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.), containing 19 chromogenic substrates, was utilized semiquantitatively to detect extracellular acid and alkaline phosphatases, aminopeptidases, proteases, esterase-lipase, phosphoamidase, and glycosidases in 128 oral and nonoral isolates of black-pigmented Bacteroides, Actinobacillus, Haemophilus aphrophilus, Capnocytophaga, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Wolinella recta, and Veillonella parvula. In the black-pigmented Bacteroides group of organisms, a strong trypsin reaction was present in Bacteroides gingivalis (oral species) but not in Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (nonoral species). Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus, in contrast to Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius, exhibited strong N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity. H. aphrophilus produced beta-galactosidase and alpha-glucosidase, but the closely related Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans did not. Capnocytophaga was distinct with respect to strong aminopeptidase reactions. This study showed that a wide range of enzymes which have the potential of causing tissue injury and inflammation can be elaborated from major oral gram-negative species. Also, the API ZYM system appears to be a valuable adjunct to traditional biochemical testing in identifying oral gram-negative species.

Animals↗

Cellular fatty acid and soluble protein composition of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and related organisms.

The cellular fatty acid and protein content of twenty-five representative strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetecomitans isolated from juvenile and adult periodontitis patients was compared to that of 15 reference strains of oral and nonoral Actinobacillus species and Haemophilus aphrophilus. Trimethylsilyl derivatives of the fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The predominant fatty acids of all 40 strains examined were 14:0, 3-OH 14:0, 16 delta, and 16:0. Actinobacillus seminis (ATCC 15768) was unlike the other strains examined because of a greater amount of 14:0 detected. The soluble protein analysis using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that A. actinomycetemcomitans, H. aphrophilus, and nonoral Actinobacillus species possessed distinct protein profiles attesting to the validity of separating these organisms into different species. Established biotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans could not be differentiated on the basis of fatty acid or protein profiles.

Actinobacillus↗

In vitro evaluation of antibiotics in the treatment of periodontal disease.

To assess the antibiotic sensitivity of subgingival microflora, chloramphenicol sodium succinate, clindamycin hydrochloride hydrate, disodium carbenicillin, doxycycline hyclate, erythromycin, minocycline hydrochloride, penicillin -G, spiramycin adipate, tetracycline hydrochloride and metronidazole were examined. Eleven patients with periodontitis were selected for sampling. Subgingival plaque samples were taken from three sites on each patient. Anaerobic incubation of the plaque samples for ten days was made on the blood agar plates which contained 0.1 microgram/ml and 5 microgram/ml of each antibiotic substance, respectively. According to the results of viable counts on the plates, it was determined that penicillin, tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline were most effective antibiotics with which to control the periodontal plaque organisms. Resistant organisms against those four antibiotics were generally Streptococcus species. "anaerobic vibrios", and Veillonella parvula. Some of the oral anaerobic isolates were also tested against all antibiotics at the concentration of 1 microgram/ml of each. Minocycline and clindamycin were the two most effective antibiotics against anaerobic subgingival purified strains and chloramphenicol was the least effective.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

The agar dilution technique was used for determination of the antibiotic susceptibilities of 57 oral isolates and 2 nonoral isolates of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Tetracycline, minocycline, and chloramphenicol inhibited more than 96% of the strains tested at a concentration of less than or equal to 2 micrograms/ml; 89% of the strains were inhibited by 2 micrograms of carbenicillin per ml. The other antimicrobial agents tested were less active. Approximately 10% of the A. actinomycetemcomitans strains were resistant to ampicillin, erythromycin, and penicillin G at concentrations of 32 to 64 micrograms/ml. These data suggest that tetracycline and minocycline may be valuable drugs in the treatment of A. actinomycetemcomitans infections.

Actinobacillosis↗

Antigenic studies of oral and nonoral black-pigmented Bacteroides strains.

Antigens of several oral and nonoral strains of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (proposed classification of oral B. asaccharolyticus, Bacteroides gingivalis), Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius, B. melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus, and B. melaninogenicus subsp. levii were identified in soluble preparations obtained by sonication, autoclaving, and NaOH treatment of whole bacterial cells. The sonicate preparations contained the most complete representation of soluble antigens using antisera to the whole organism in gel precipitation tests. Among strains of B. melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius many common antigens were detected, and no consistent antigenic differences were seen between strains from oral and nonoral sites. None of the antigens of B. melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius reacted with sera raised to several strains of oral or nonoral B. asaccharolyticus, nor did antigens prepared from the latter strains react with antisera to B. melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius. At least one common antigen was shared by strains of B. melaninogenicus subsp. intermedius and strains of B. melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus; however, subspecies-specific antigens were also found. Antigens from and antisera to oral and nonoral strains of B. asaccharolyticus did not react with sera to and antigens from B. melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus. Strains of B. asaccharolyticus isolated from the oral cavity were antigenically distinct from strains of B. asaccharolyticus obtained from nonoral sites and lesions. This lack of cross-reactivity between the oral and nonoral strains of B. asaccharolyticus together with recent findings of marked genetic differences between oral and nonoral strains of B. asaccharolyticus suggest that these groups of organisms may represent different species.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in human periodontal disease: a cross-sectional microbiological investigation.

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a facultative gram-negative bacterium which has been associated with severe oral and nonoral infections. This study examined its occurrence in the oral cavities of 10 normal juveniles, 11 normal adults, 10 juvenile periodontitis patients, and 12 adult periodontitis patients. Four deep periodontal pockets and two normal periodontal sites were sampled in the diseased patients, and six normal periodontal sites were sampled in the healthy individuals. In all subjects samples were obtained from the cheek, tongue, and saliva. Samples from a total of 172 normal periodontal sites, 83 deep periodontal pockets, 42 cheek mucosae, 42 tongue dorsa, and 42 salivas were examined. Isolation was performed by using a medium for selective isolation of A. actinomycetemcomitans (Trypticase soy agar [BBL Microbiology Systems] supplemented with 10% serum and 75 mug of bacitracin per ml). The carrier rates were 20% for normal juveniles, 36% for normal adults, 50% for adult periodontitis patients, and 90% for juvenile periodontitis patients. A. actinomycetemcomitans was on average recovered in about fivefold-higher numbers from infected deep periodontal pockets than from infected normal subgingival areas. Samples of periodontal pockets generally contained 100-fold-more cells of A. actinomycetemcomitans than did samples of the cheek, tongue, and saliva. A. actinomycetemcomitans is commonly isolated from patients with juvenile periodontitis, often isolated from patients with adult periodontitis, and occasionally isolated from normal juveniles and adults. Its primary oral ecological niche appears to be dental plaque and periodontal pockets.

Actinobacillus Infections↗

Evaluation of Fluoretec-M for detection of oral strains of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and Bacteroides melaninogenicus.

Fluoretec-M is a polyvalent conjugate used in direct fluorescent-antibody staining for identification of the Bacteroides asaccharolyticus-Bacteroides melaninogenicus group. The Fluoretec-M reagent detected all oral and nonoral test strains of B. melaninogaenicus subsp. intermedius, all test strains of B. melaninogenicus subsp. melaninogenicus, and the nonoral strains of B. asaccharolyticus. However, the Fluoretec-M polyvalent reagent and the monovalent conjugates which constitute Fluoretec-M did not detect the oral strains B. asaccharolyticus. The use of Fluoretec-M can therefore generate false-negative results in studies of specimens from oral cavity and from nonoral sites in which an infection with B. asacacharolyticus of oral origin may have taken place. It is suggested that antibodies reactive with the oral antigenic type of B. asaccharolyticus be included in the preparative procedure of the Fluoretec-M reagent.

Bacteroides↗