Bacillus species are present in chewing tobacco sold in the United States and evoke plasma exudation from the oral mucosa.
Five Bacillus species, predominantly Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus pumilus, were isolated from two popular brands of commercially available chewing tobacco [(5.0 +/- 1) x 10(6) CFU/ml of supernatant; results for four experiments]. Moreover, the supernatant of the Bacillus culture evoked plasma exudation from postcapillary venules in the intact hamster cheek pouch, exudation that was mediated by the kallikrein/kinin metabolic pathway. Taken together, these data indicate that Bacillus species contaminate chewing tobacco commercially available in the United States and elaborate a potent exogenous virulence factor(s) that injures the oral mucosa.
Rubinstein
Israel
I
Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago,Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. IRubinst@uic.edu
Pedersen
Gerald W
GW
D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D010949:Plasma / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D014481:United States