title: Bacterial DNA signatures in carotid atherosclerosis represent both commensals and pathogens of skin origin.
abstract: Infectious agents have been suggested to be involved in atherosclerosis. By using a novel subtraction broad-range PCR approach, we defined bacterial DNA signatures in surgically removed sterile carotid artery endarterectomy plaques of patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Eighty partial bacterial 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences from eight patients were studied. Furthermore, 34 clones representing 21 bacterial sequence-types from the reagents used for DNA extraction and PCR amplification were determined. After subtraction of these potential methodological contaminants, 23 bacterial sequence-types were considered as clinically relevant findings. The most prominent phylum, Actinobacteria, accounted for 74% of these relevant sequences. Furthermore, according to the Human Microbiome project database, interestingly, nearly all (94%) of the sequences were associated with the human skin microbiome.
authors: Department of Medical Biochemistry, CB Defence and Environmental Health Centre, Centre for Military Medicine, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Jaana
authors: J
authors: Renko
authors: Katja A
authors: KA
authors: Koskela
authors: Paul W
authors: PW
authors: Lepp
authors: Niku
authors: N
authors: Oksala
authors: Mari
authors: M
authors: Levula
authors: Terho
authors: T
authors: Lehtimäki
authors: Tiina
authors: T
authors: Solakivi
authors: Tarja
authors: T
authors: Kunnas
authors: Simo
authors: S
authors: Nikkari
authors: Seppo T
authors: ST
authors: Nikkari
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054892:Metagenome; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Actinobacteria; PCR; atherosclerosis; bacterial DNA; chronic inflammatory disease; skin microbiome