DNA-DNA Checkerboard Hybridization to Identify Bacteria in Human Plaque Samples

<p>Previous research has shown that using DNA probes to identify the presence of specific bacteria in human plaque samples is superior to the commonly used anaerobic cultural procedures. Some periodontal pathogens are either uncultivable or very difficult to grow, such as<em> Prevotella intermedia, P. nigrescens</em>, and <em>Eubacterium brachy</em>. Digoxygenin probes were prepared for 15 oral bacteria. These probes were used with a checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization scheme to analyze whether human plaque samples contained any of the 15 bacterial species. Our results have shown that this method is successful in identifying bacterial DNA present in the subgingival patient plaque samples. Probe cross-reactivity tests were also performed and have shown that there was very little cross-reactivity between the 15 bacterial species used. This method can be used for rapid and specific identification (compared to current anaerobic culturing methods) of bacterial species in human plaque samples, thus potentially facilitating treatment for pathogens implicated in periodontal diseases.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Year

1999

Author dc:creator

• Zimmerman, Jasan Lee

Contributors dc:contributor

• James D. Kettering
• Hansel M. Fletcher
• Yiming Li

• Microbiology
• Molecular Genetics
• Periodontics and Periodontology
• DNA Probes; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Periodontal Diseases -- microbiology; Tooth -- microbiology.

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/820

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1941