METHANOGENIC BACTERIA IN SUBGINGIVAL DENTAL PLAQUE

我们建议研究产甲烷细菌与人类的关系 牙病。 在初步实验中，富集培养物和 分离的菌株已经从各种牙菌斑中获得， 牙周病患者 长期目标是了解 在这个新的，迄今未研究的生态系统中的产甲烷菌，并检查 细菌对人体的影响 具体目标是： (1)确定牙菌斑中甲烷菌的存在是否是 主要是在疾病状况的情况下;（2）表征分离的 利用微生物和免疫学技术研究产甲烷菌（3） 产甲烷菌改变异养菌代谢的能力 从牙菌斑获得的混合培养物中的细菌。 龈下菌斑样本将在厌氧条件下转移至 产甲烷菌培养基和使用H2 + CO2作为富集培养基获得的富集培养物。 碳和能源。 通过平板接种获得纯培养物 厌氧接种到Gellite平板上并在H2/CO2下孵育。 富集和纯培养物的免疫学分析，以及 营养研究将允许表征存在的产甲烷菌; 初步发现表明我们可能会发现新的生物体。 通过采样 广泛的主题，并使用适当的控制和统计 技术，我们将能够得出结论，如果产甲烷菌与 牙周病

We propose to study the relationship of methane producing bacteria to human dental disease. In preliminary experiments enrichment cultures and isolated strains have been obtained from dental plaque in a variety of periodontal patients. Long term objectives are to understand the ecological relationships of the methanogens in this novel, heretofore unstudied ecosystem, and to examine the effects of the bacteria on the human host. Specific aims here are to: (1) Determine if the presence of methanogens in dental plaque is principally in cases of diseased conditions; (2) characterize the isolated methanogens using microbiological and immunological techniques (3) examine the ability of methanogens to modify the metabolism of heterotrophic bacteria in mixed cultures obtained from dental plaque. Samples of subgingival plaque will be anaerobically transferred to methanogen medium, and enrichment cultures obtained using H2 + CO2 as a carbon and energy source. Pure cultures will be obtained by plating anaerobically onto Gellrite plates and incubating under H2/CO2. Immunological analysis of enrichments and pure cultures, as well as nutritional studies will allow characterization of the methanogens present; preliminary findings suggest we may discover novel organisms. By sampling a wide range of subjects and using appropriate controls and statistical techniques we will be able to conclude if methanogens are correlated with periodontal disease.