[Identification and quantitative analysis of Archaea involved in periodontal disease].
OBJECTIVE
To make qualitative and quantitative analysis of Archaea in subgingival plaque sample and to investigate the relationship between periodontal disease and Archaea.


METHODS
Subgingival plaque was collected from 23 patients with aggressive periodontitis, 29 with chronic periodontitis, 35 with plaque-induced gingivitis and 38 healthy controls. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of methanogenic archaea was performed by amplification of the 16S rRNA genes in the DNA extracted from the plaque samples.


RESULTS
Archaea were found in 65% of aggressive periodontitis patients, 72% of chronic periodontitis, 26% of gingivitis and zero of healthy subjects. Quantitative analysis showed the average abundance of archaeal 16S rRNA gene in Archaea-positive patients was different among the three groups. The average 16S rRNA gene copy number from per microg wet plaque was 6.66 x 10(6) in aggressive periodontitis sufferers, 4.47 x 10(6) in chronic periodontitis and 1.78 x 10(6) in gingivitis groups. The prevalence of Archaea and the average Archaea 16S rRNA gene numbers in periodontitis groups were higher than those in gingivitis group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This suggests that Archaea may be implicated as causative agents for periodontitis.
Li
Chao-lun
CL
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Jiang
Yun-tao
YT
Zhang
Ming-zhu
MZ
Liang
Jing-ping
JP
D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S