A rapid DNA probe test compared to culture methods for identification of subgingival plaque bacteria

There has been a significant amount of interest in developing a more rapid and cost-effective test to identify bacterial pathogens in plaque. DNA probe technology may meet both these objectives, it is more rapid and cost-effective when compared to culture methods. The purpose of this study was to compare an automated DNA probe test with classical culture methods for identifying Bacteroides forsythus and Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque of patients with adult periodontitis. Subgingival plaque samples were collected from sites with moderate to severe periodontitis and divided into two aliquots for analysis by either DNA probe or culture methods. When the DNA probe method was compared with the culture method (gold standard), the sensitivity and specificity for B. forsythus were 92.0% (SE = 3.4%) and 50.5% (SE = 7.8%), respectively; for P. gingivalis they were 52.2% (SE = 8.7%) and 74.7% (SE = 5.9%), respectively. Detection of B. forsythus and P. gingivalis by DNA probe correlated with probing depth (P = 0.01 for B. forsythus and P = 0.03 for P. gingivalis). It was concluded the DNA probe test was comparable to culture methods in detecting B. forsythus. In addition, when compared to the culture method, a better correlation was obtained with DNA probe detection of B. forsythus or P. gingivalis and clinical parameters.     

Comparison of cultural methods and DNA probe analyses for the detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides gingivalis, and Bacteroides intermedius in subgingival plaque samples

The purpose of this study was to compare DNA probe analyses to cultural methods for detecting three periodontal pathogens, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides gingivalis, and Bacteroides intermedius, in human subgingival plaque. Subgingival sites from patients diagnosed as either healthy or showing evidence of gingivitis or juvenile or adult periodontitis were sampled using two paper points. The number of these pathogens from one paper point was determined using microbiologic media and speciated by biochemical tests. Results were then compared to bacterial numbers obtained from the other paper point using species-specific DNA probes. In 60 samples from the disease group, DNA probe analysis demonstrated 100% effectiveness in detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans and B. intermedius and 91% effectiveness in detecting B. gingivalis at culture positive levels (greater than or equal to 10(3) cells). In addition, probe assays frequently identified these pathogens in samples that were culture negative. Probe analysis revealed a better correlation between presence of a pathogen and clinical evidence of disease on an individual patient basis. In contrast, most samples taken from sites of healthy individuals showed undetectable levels of all three pathogens as determined by both techniques. These results suggest that DNA probe technology is at least equivalent and often superior to cultural methods for detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. gingivalis, and B. intermedius in human subgingival plaque samples.     

Viability of four putative periodontal pathogens and enteric rods in the anaerobic transport medium VMGA III

The aim of this study was to determine the survival in VMGA III of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and enteric rods in laboratory cultures as well as in sub-gingival plaque samples. Laboratory strains of the 4 putative periodontal pathogens and Escherichia coli were used in the laboratory part of the study. Also, 31 subgingival plaque samples were obtained from 22 periodontal patients and stored in VMGA III. Each sample, from both the laboratory and the clinical parts, was divided into 3 portions. One portion was cultured within a few hours of collection (baseline), while the second was processed after 24 h (day 2) and the third 48 h later (day 3). The results of the clinical part indicate that the detection frequencies of all 4 periodontal pathogens and their levels in positive samples decreased, to different degrees, by day 2 and decreased further by day 3. Enteric rods were not detected in baseline samples. However, they were present in 16.1% and 22.6% of day 2 and day 3 samples, respectively. Similarly, the laboratory results demonstrate a significant decrease in the levels of the 4 periodontal pathogens tested by day 2 and day 3, whereas the opposite occurred for E. coli. P. gingivalis, P. intermedia , and F. nucleatum survived better in the presence of E. coli than alone, whereas A. actinomycetemcomitans survived less well when co-inoculated with E. coli . VMGA III appears to maintain microbial population ratios for periods up to 24 h. After 24 h, the multiplication of enteric organisms may alter the original proportions of the sample.     

牙龈卟啉单胞菌在龈下菌斑和颊黏膜中的检测

目的　检测牙周健康者及牙周炎患者在颊黏膜和龈下菌斑中牙龈卟啉单胞菌的阳性率,探讨其与牙周炎发生和发展的关系。方法　选取40例牙周健康者和39例慢性牙周炎患者,分别收集颊黏膜和龈下菌斑样本,提取细菌DNA,设计细菌通用引物和牙龈卟啉单胞菌的特异引物用于PCR扩增,检测牙龈卟啉单胞菌的阳性率。结果　牙周健康组菌斑样本和颊黏膜样本牙龈卟啉单胞菌的阳性率分别为37·5%和32·5%,而牙周炎组菌斑样本和颊黏膜样本牙龈卟啉单胞菌的阳性率分别为69·23%和46·15%。牙周炎组菌斑的牙龈卟啉单胞菌阳性率高于牙周健康组,颊黏膜的牙龈卟啉单胞菌阳性率在组间无统计学差异;牙周炎组菌斑牙龈卟啉单胞菌阳性率高于颊黏膜, 牙周健康组两部位阳性率无统计学差异。结论　牙龈卟啉单胞菌除在菌斑中有高检出率外,在颊黏膜中也有较高的检出率,提示颊黏膜也是牙周细菌在口腔定植的重要部位,牙龈卟啉单胞菌也可在健康人群中检出,提示其有可能是口腔内固有菌群之一。     

Comparison of the microbiota of supra- and subgingival plaque in health and periodontitis

BACKGROUND, AIMS: The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the microbial composition of supra and subgingival plaque in 22 periodontally healthy (mean age 32+/-16 years) and 23 adult periodontitis subjects (mean age 51+/-14 years). METHODS: A total of 2358 supra and separately subgingival plaque samples were collected from the mesial aspect of all teeth excluding 3rd molars in each subject. Samples were examined for the presence and levels of 40 bacterial taxa using whole genomic DNA probes and checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. Clinical assessments including dichotomous measures of gingival redness, bleeding on probing, plaque accumulation and suppuration, as well as duplicate measures of pocket depth and attachment level, were made at 6 sites per tooth. Mean counts (x10(5), % DNA probe count and % sites colonized for each species were determined separately for supra and subgingival samples in each subject and then averaged across subjects in the 2 clinical groups. Significance of differences between healthy and periodontitis subjects was determined using the Mann-Whitney test and adjusted for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Mean total DNA probe counts (x10(5), +/-SEM) for healthy and periodontitis subjects in supragingival plaque were 72.1+/-11 and 132+/-17.5, respectively (p<0.01), and in subgingival plaque 22.1+/-6.6 and 100.3+/-18.4, (p<0.001). Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides forsythus and Treponema denticola could be detected in supragingival plaque samples of both healthy and periodontitis subjects. Actinomyces species were the dominant taxa in both supra- and subgingival plaque from healthy and periodontitis subjects. 4 Actinomyces species accounted for 63.2%, of supragingival and 47.2% of subgingival plaque in healthy subjects and 48.% and 37.8% in periodontitis subjects respectively. Increased proportions of P. gingivalis, B. forsythus, and species of Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Campylobacter and Treponema were detected subgingivally in the periodontitis subjects. P. gingivalis, B. forsythus and T. denticola were significantly more prevalent in both supra- and subgingival plaque samples from periodontitis subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The main differences between supra and subgingival plaque as well as between health and disease were in the proportions and to some extent levels of Actinomyces, "orange" and "red" complex species.     

牙周病基础治疗前后龈下菌群的动态观察

目的：动态观察龈下细菌治疗前后在口腔内定植的变化，为牙周病病因学研究和治疗方案确定提供依据。方法：选取26例慢性牙周炎患者治疗前、治疗后1周、1个月和3个月时同一位点的龈下菌斑，测量牙周探诊深度，提DNA，洲浓度。扩增全细菌16SrRNA基因片段，变性梯度凝胶电泳分离，选择特异性的DNA条带，回收、测序。结果：测序结果表明治疗后消失的两个DNA条带与牙龈卟啉单胞菌有98％和99％的同源性；治疗后新出现的两个DNA条带与卟啉菌属的一种有99％的同源性。结论：牙龈卟啉单胞菌是慢性牙周炎的重要可疑致病菌。变性梯度凝胶电泳适用于分析大量微生物标本分布和类型。     

Comparison of subgingival bacterial sampling with oral lavage for detection and quantification of periodontal pathogens by real-time polymerase chain reaction

BACKGROUND: Saliva has been studied for the presence of subgingival pathogens in periodontitis patients. With the anaerobic culture technique, the discrepancy between salivary recovery and subgingival presence has been significant, which makes this approach not suitable for practical use in the microbial diagnosis of periodontitis patients. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique represents a very sensitive technique to detect and quantify bacterial pathogens. The aim of the study was to compare the presence and numbers of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythensis, Prevotella intermedia, and Micromonas micros in subgingival plaque and mouthwash samples by the anaerobic culture and real-time PCR techniques. METHODS: Pooled subgingival plaque samples and 10-ml mouthwash samples were collected from 21 adult patients with periodontitis and analyzed by quantitative anaerobic culture and real-time PCR for A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, T. forsythensis, P. intermedia, and M. micros. RESULTS: The detection frequency of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, and T. forsythensis in subgingival plaque was identical by culture and real-time PCR and was higher for P. intermedia and M. micros by real-time PCR. The highest detection frequencies for the target bacteria were found in mouthwash samples by real-time PCR. The additional value of the real-time PCR to detect target bacteria was 38% for P. gingivalis, 73% for T. forsythensis, 77% for P. intermedia, and 71% for M. micros. The sensitivity to detect target species in mouthwash by real-time PCR was 100% for all test species except for P. intermedia (93.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid detection and quantification of periodontal pathogens in mouthwash samples are possible by real-time PCR. The procedure is significantly less time-consuming than subgingival sampling with paper points. This approach to detect major periodontal pathogens in mouthwash samples may simplify microbial diagnosis in periodontitis patients and may be used to monitor periodontal treatment.     

慢性牙周炎患者龈下菌斑中不同基因型牙龈卟啉单胞菌的检测

摘要 目的:建立临床标本中牙龈卟啉单胞菌(P.g)的PCR检测方法,探讨慢性牙周炎患者不同牙位的龈下菌斑中P.g基因型的差异。方法:采用培养法分离鉴定慢性牙周炎患者不同牙位龈下菌斑中P.g,同时采用PCR检测 P.g16SrDNA、prtC和fimA基因。部分扩增产物测定了核苷酸序列。结果:在66例患者的127个龈下菌斑标本中, P.g16SrDNA、prtC和fimA多重引物扩增的阳性率为9814%;PCR阳性率显著高于培养法P.g的检出率(P< 0101)。3010%的患者(18/60)同时感染了不同基因型的P.g菌株。P.g16SrDNA、prtC和fimA扩增片段的核苷酸序列同源性在98162%~100%之间。结论:本文所建立的P.g的PCR检测方法具有较高的敏感性和特异性,适用于P.g的快速临床诊断。同一患者可被不同感染来源的多株P.g同时感染。     

A rapid DNA probe method for detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to develop a rapid DNA probe method for the microbiological detection of periodontitis that can be used in dental clinics. By using the DNA probe, we also investigated the correlation between the occurrence of putative periodontopathic bacteria and clinical parameters. METHODS: This rapid DNA probe method minimizes the use of a water bath for ordinary hybridization and washing in order to shorten the total reaction time. The detection process could be completed within 2 hours. In order to evaluate the clinical application of the DNA probe, subgingival plaque samples were taken from patients with periodontitis before initial therapy. After the therapy, the patients were microbiologically and clinically evaluated. RESULTS: When the DNA probe method was compared with the culture method, the agreement was 88% for Porphyromonas gingivalis and 67% for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. A statistically significant association was found between the detection of P. gingivalis and probing depth, bleeding on probing (chi2 test: P <0.001, P <0.05). A significant association was also shown between the detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans and probing depth in patients aged 35 or older (chi2 test: P <0.001). The detection rate of A. actinomycetemcomitans was highest in teenagers. At shallow periodontal pocket sites (PD < or =3 mm) in teenagers, no P. gingivalis was found, while 22% of the sites harbored A. actinomycetemcomitans. After the therapy, the frequency of detection of P. gingivalis decreased significantly only in the clinically improved sites (chi2 test: P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The rapid DNA probe method appears promising as an efficient tool for rapid clinical detection of periodontopathic bacteria.     

不同fimA基因型牙龈卟啉单胞菌在慢性牙周炎患者中的分布

目的　分析不同fimA基因型牙龈卟啉单胞菌(P.gingivalis)在慢性牙周炎患者中的分布状况。方法　收集101例慢性牙周炎患者的龈下菌斑,采用常规培养法和16S rRNA PCR检测P.gingivalis,并根据各fimA基因型的特异引物,用聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测不同fimA基因型菌株的分布。结果　16S rRNA PCR检测P.gingivalis阳性检出率为88·1%。大多数受检牙龈下菌斑中只检测出一种fimA基因型菌株(65·1%),各fimA基因型的总检出率: ⅠfimA为24·7%;ⅡfimA为43·8%;ⅢfimA为15·7%;ⅣfimA为40·4%;VfimA为3·4%。结论　慢性牙周炎患者龈下菌斑中的牙龈卟啉单胞菌存在fimA基因多态性,ⅡfimA和ⅣfimA基因型P.gingivalis菌株与慢性牙周炎的发生发展关系密切。     

A comparison of two transport media for saliva and subgingival samples

This study has shown that microorganisms associated with caries (mutans streptococci, lactobacilli) and marginal periodontitis ( Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) in pure culture can be stored in VMGA or reduced transport fluid and be recovered sufficiently after 24 h. Sufficient recovery after 24 h of mail transport was also obtained in 37 saliva samples obtained from adults and 80 subgingival samples from a group of patients before and 3, 6 and 15 months after periodontal treatment. The samples transported in VMGA III showed in comparison to the samples transported in reduced transport fluid a higher recovery rate as well as a higher percentage of the total viable count for investigated anaerobic species. This was explained by the different composition of the two media and also by the gel consistency of VMGA III, which maintains a low redox-potential even during transport after transferring a sample into the medium. In a few samples aerobic bacteria increased in both media.     

龈下菌斑中牙龈卟啉单胞菌牙龈素基因片段的检测

目的：检测慢性牙周炎患者龈下菌斑中牙龈卟啉单胞菌（Porphyromonas gingivalis,P.gingivalis）的2个基因片段kgp-cd和rgpB-cd,探讨2个基因片段的存在和缺失与牙周临床指标之间的关系.方法：选择慢性牙周炎患者龈下菌斑84个,对P.gingivalis阳性的龈下菌斑样本进行kgp-cd和rgpB-cd基因片段检测;根据2个基因片段的有无,将P.gingivalis分为A型和B型,采用SPSS11.5统计软件包,用t检验和x2检验分析不同基因型P.gingivalis与牙周临床指标的关系.结果：A型P.gingivalis在慢性牙周炎中的检出率高于B型（P＜0.05）,分别为85.29%和14.71%.不同基因型P.gingivalis引起的牙周袋探诊深度和牙龈出血倾向存在显著性差异（PD：t=2.85,P＜0.05;BOP：P＜0.05）.结论：kgp-cd和rgpB-cd基因与P.gingivalis的致病性有关.     

聚合酶链反应与常规方法检测牙龈卟啉单胞菌的比较研究

目的 使用聚合产链反应检测龈下菌斑的牙龈卟啉菌，并与常规的培养法和间接免疫荧光法相比较，方法 设计纤毛亚单位蛋白基因内的一对引物，用ＰＣＲ对９２个龈证菌斑标本进行扩增，与其他两种方法的检出率进行比较。结果 相同的菌斑标本，ＰＣＲ的检出率为９４．６％，培养法为４８．９％，间接免疫荧光法为６８．５％，前者明显高于后两者。结论对牙周病致病菌的检测，ＰＣＲ较培养法和间接免疫荧光法具有较高的敏感性。本项研究     

牙龈卟啉单胞菌PG1055基因在临床菌株中的表达

目的应用基因芯片技术检测PG1055基因在不同人群的牙龈卟啉单胞菌(P.gingivalis)中分布,探讨这些基因与牙周临床指数之间的关系。方法取龈下菌斑进行细菌分离培养,以临床采集样本提取的DNA为探针,以抑制消减杂交技术获得P.gingivalisW83的特异基因片段PG1055为目标序列,采用Cy5荧光标记目标序列。应用基因芯片技术检测PG1055基因在牙周病患者及健康人群的牙龈卟啉单胞菌中的分布。结果PG1055基因在牙周病患者及健康人群中的检出率有统计学差异,并且与牙周临床指数相关。结论PG1055基因与P.gingivalis的致病性有关。     

Porphyromonas gingivalis lipids and diseased dental tissues

BACKGROUND/AIM: Porphyromonas gingivalis synthesizes several classes of dihydroceramides and at least one of these lipid classes promotes proinflammatory secretory reactions in gingival fibroblasts as well as alters fibroblast morphology in culture. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the dihydroceramide lipids of P. gingivalis are recovered in lipid extracts of subgingival plaque, diseased teeth, and diseased gingival tissue samples. METHODS: Lipids were extracted from P. gingivalis, subgingival plaque, subgingival calculus, teeth laden with gross accumulations of subgingival calculus, and gingival tissue samples obtained from chronic severe periodontitis sites. Lipid samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as trimethylsilyl derivatives or by electrospray-mass spectrometry as underivatized products. High-performance liquid chromatography fractions of P. gingivalis lipids and gingival tissue lipids were also analyzed by electrospray-mass spectrometry analysis. RESULTS: P. gingivalis phosphorylated dihydroceramides were recovered in lipid extracts of subgingival plaque, subgingival calculus, calculus contaminated teeth, and diseased gingival tissue samples. However, the distribution of phosphorylated dihydroceramides varied between these samples. CONCLUSION: Subgingival plaque, subgingival calculus, diseased teeth, and gingival tissue are contaminated with phosphorylated dihydroceramides produced by P. gingivalis. The previously reported biological activity of these substances together with the recovery of these lipids at periodontal disease sites argues strongly for their classification as virulence factors in promoting chronic inflammatory periodontal disease.     

Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and culture methods for detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque samples

In this study, the major periodontal pathogens Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were detected in subgingival plaque samples from patients with periodontal disease by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and conventional culture methods. 170 plaque samples from 43 patients were analysed; A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were each detected in 40 (24%) of samples by PCR. whereas conventional culture methods detected A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis in 25 (15%) and 18 (11%) of samples, respectively. The proportion of patients carrying A. actinomycetemcomitans in at least 1 sampled periodontal site was 17/43 (40%) by PCR and 13/43 (30%) by culture; for P. gingivalis this was 2/43 (28%) by PCR and 9/43 (21%) by culture. Only 5 samples, from 3 patients, harboured both A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis . It is concluded that PCR is more accurate than conventional culture methods for identification of these periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque samples and has a higher frequency of detection.     

Species-specific DNA probe for the detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis from adult Chinese periodontal patients and healthy subjects

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that Porphyromonas gingivalis is closely associated with chronic periodontitis and its detection has been recommended as a routine marker for periodontal diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a DNA probe to detect P. gingivalis in adult Chinese periodontitis patients as well as to find a rapid and convenient method to detect P. gingivalis in clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 26 bacterial strains (20 reference strains and 6 clinical isolates) were collected, of which 5 were P. gingivalis and 21 were heterologous species. A DNA fragment of 542 bp, which encodes the fimbriae subunit protein (fimA) of P. gingivalis, was obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and molecular cloning techniques and used to construct the DNA probe, labeled with 32P or with digoxigenin. The constructed DNA probe was used to detect P. gingivalis in specimens collected from the periodontal pockets of 100 patients clinically confirmed with chronic periodontitis. One hundred periodontally healthy persons served as a control group. RESULTS: Positive reactions were seen in all 5 strains of P. gingivalis while no visible reaction was found in other species. The DNA probe was capable of detecting as few as 100 P. gingivalis cells in samples. A significant difference in the positive rates of P. gingivalis between the periodontitis patients and the control group was found (P<0.01). In addition, the amount of detected P. gingivalis was positively correlated with the extent of tooth mobility, depth of periodontal pockets, and patient age (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The DNA probe is specific and sensitive for the detection of P. gingivalis in chronic periodontitis specimens and may be a suitable method for the clinical diagnosis of chronic periodontitis.     

Comparing culture, real-time PCR and fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology for detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis in patients with or without peri-implant infections

Galassi F, Kaman WE, Anssari Moin D, van der Horst J, Wismeijer D, Crielaard W, Laine ML, Veerman ECI, Bikker FJ, Loos BG. Comparing culture, real‐time PCR and fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology for detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis in patients with or without peri‐implant infections. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 616–625. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology with commonly used diagnostic methods in salivary and subgingival plaque samples from subjects with dental implants. P. gingivalis was considered as a marker for a pathogenic microbiota. Material and Methods: Ninety‐seven adult subjects were recruited, including periodontally healthy controls with no dental implants, implant controls with no peri‐implant disease and patients with peri‐implant disease. Saliva and subgingival/submucosal plaque samples were collected from all subjects and were analyzed using culture, real‐time PCR and FRET technology employing P. gingivalis‐specific substrates. Results: It was found that the P. gingivalis‐specific substrates were highly suitable for detecting the presence of P. gingivalis in saliva and in subgingival plaque samples, showing comparable specificity to culture and real‐time PCR. Conclusion: We applied the FRET technology to detect P. gingivalis in implant patients with or without an implant condition and in controls without implants. The technique seems suitable for detection of P. gingivalis in both plaque and saliva samples. However, with all three techniques, P. gingivalis was not very specific for peri‐implantitis cases. Future work includes fine‐tuning the FRET technology and also includes the development of a chair‐side application.     

PCR方法对牙周炎患者唾液中牙龈卟啉单胞菌的检测

目的用PCR方法,检测牙周病患者唾液中牙龈卟啉单胞菌(Porphyromonas gingivalis,P.g),并探讨采用唾液标本与龈下菌斑标本检测结果的一致性.方法选择临床54例牙周炎患者病例,分别取其静止唾液和龈下菌斑标本,设计P.g菌16SrDNA引物,分别对2种标本进行PCR扩增,观察P. g菌的检出率,并计算kappa值.结果静止唾液和龈下菌斑标本中P.g菌的检测结果具有高度一致性,其检出率分别为83.3%(45/54)和79.6%(43/54),Kappa值为0.755,准确度达92.6%.结论本研究所用的引物可用于口腔中P.g菌的检测,特别是研究中采用的唾液标本,取材方便,有可能代替龈下菌斑标本.     

Acid tolerance and acid-neutralizing activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum

The tolerance to acid and the acid-neutralizing activity of three important periodontopathic bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum were studied. P. gingivalis strains grew only at neutral pH and did not utilize glucose, whereas strains of P. intermedia and F. nucleatum could grow under acidic conditions and increased their growth by utilizing glucose. P. gingivalis tended to raise the culture pH during growth. P. intermedia and F. nucleatum raised the culture pH during growth in the absence of glucose, while in the presence of glucose they decreased the pH. Resting cell suspensions of all the bacteria raised the pH in the presence of tryptone and casamino acids. Acid-neutralizing activity was confirmed by measuring base production at a fixed pH with a pH-stat. During neutralization, the cells produced cytotoxic substrates, ammonia and organic acids (butyric, isobutyric and isovaleric acids by P. gingivalis ; isovaleric and succinic acids by P. intermedia ; propionic and butyric acids by F. nucleatum ). These findings suggest that deamination of amino acids into ammonia and organic acids occurs simultaneously with base production, resulting in acid neutralization. These results could partially explain the survival of P. intermedia and F. nucleatum in both supragingival and subgingival plaque and the apparent restriction of P. gingivalis to subgingival plaque. The former bacteria may aid in creation of an environment fostering colonization of subgingival plaque by P. gingivalis.