title: Characterization of the periodontal microflora by the fatty acid profile of the broth-grown microbial population.
abstract: The applicability of fatty acid analysis to the characterization of periodontal microflora was investigated using gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and the software of the Sherlock Microbial Identification System (MIS) from MIDI Inc. Sulcus fluid was collected with paper points and anaerobically cultured in broth at 35 degrees C for four days. The broth-grown microbial population was extracted and the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were separated by GLC. The investigation of 67 specimens from asymptomatic sulci and of 32 specimens from inflamed sulci showed that the patterns of FAME profiles, the clustering of FAME profiles by computerized 2-D plot procedure, and the determination of the peak area index (PAI) of the FAME profiles differentiate between normal and pathological sulcus flora. Comparison of the clinical sulcus rating and the FAME data indicated that a pathological FAME profile may precede manifest periodontitis, and the normalization of the FAME profile may precede healing. It is concluded that the FAME analysis of sulcus fluid is a diagnostic aid for periodontological surveillance, for the initiation of preventive treatment of periodontitis, and for controlling the antimicrobial efficiency of therapeutic measures.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Universität GH-Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weischer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schettler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ansorg
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012984:Software