Species of Yeasts Identified in the Plaque of Healthy versus Periodontal Patients

Authors

Michelle FongFollow
Der Thor, University of the PacificFollow
Tamer Alpagot, University of the Pacific
Nan (Tori) Xiao, University of the Pacific

Lead Author Affiliation

University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

Lead Author Program & Year

DDS Year 1

Presentation Category

Research

Introduction/Context/Diagnosis

Although many study the human oral cavity for bacteria, different species of yeast that are also present are often overlooked. Therefore, the different strains of yeasts found in the mouth have not yet been identified. This study focuses on developing a PCR-based technique to identify species of yeast in the mouth. The relationship between the species of yeast found in patients with periodontal disease versus healthy patients was also analyzed.

Methods/Treatment Plan

Samples of plaque from four different sites in the mouth were collected from ten patients with periodontal disease and ten patients with healthy periodontium. Plaques samples were resuspended in water and boiled to release genomic DNA. A two-step PCR method was used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer gene sequences of yeasts. The PCR product was then separated via agarose gel electrophoresis. Amplicons with correct base pair lengths were gel-purified and sequenced. Specific species of yeasts were identified using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool from The National Center for Biotechnology Information by comparing the sequenced DNA with a national database. The relationships between the yeast species found in healthy patients and periodontal patients were determined.

Results/Outcome

Many species of yeast were identified in the plaque of healthy patients and patients with periodontal disease. The major yeast found in the plaque of individuals with a healthy periodontium was Chaetothyriales sp. The major yeast found in the plaque from healthy sites of individuals with periodontal disease was Candida albicans, while Penicillium chloroleucon, Cladosporium globisphorum, and Chaetothyriales sp were all identified in plaque from diseased sites.

Significance/Conclusions

The developed method was able to identify yeast species found in the plaque. From the results, there appears to be a difference in the species of yeasts found in healthy patients versus periodontal patients. Further studies with a larger patient pool will give more insight on the relationship between different yeast species in healthy and periodontal patients and any possible association with oral health.

Comments/Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Research Enhancement Award (DRES03-098) to Der Thor.

Keywords - periodontal disease, yeast, plaque, PCR

Format

Event