title: Biochemical and structural characterization of an unusual group of gram-negative, anaerobic rods from human periapical osteitis.
abstract: The biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties of three previously undescribed strains from human dental root canal infections are presented. The strains were obligately anaerobic Gram-negative rods with fimbriae and a thick capsule-like structure. Carbohydrates were not fermented and agglutination tests were negative. The presence of alpha-galactosidase, alpha- and beta-glucosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and beta-galactosidase was confirmed. The strains produced acetic and succinic acids as metabolic end products. They contained a peptidoglycan structure based upon meso-diaminopimelic acid (Al gamma) and lacked respiratory quinones. The cellular fatty acids were mainly straight-chain saturated and methyl-branched molecules. High interstrain DNA homology was observed and the DNA base compositions were between 56 and 59 mol % G + C. These three strains appear to comprise the nucleus of a new genus of anaerobic, Gram-negative rods from odontogenic infections.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haapasalo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ranta
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ranta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lounatmaa
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kroppenstedt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001482:Base Composition; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D006089:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010000:Osteitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase