Researchers identify new dental cavity-causing species
May 17, 2011 in Medical researchA team of scientists from Boston has confirmed that the bacterium Streptococcus mutans is a primary culprit in early childhood caries (EEC) cavities on the first set of teeth, and has identified a new species of bacterium, Scardovia wiggsiae, which they suspect is also a major contributor. They report their findings in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
The studys ultimate goal was to determine which bacterial species should be suppressed to prevent cavity formation, says Anne Tanner, of the Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA. EEC is the most common chronic infectious disease of childhood in the US. It afflicts one quarter of the relevant population, and more than one half among certain disadvantaged socioeconomic groups.
In this study, the researchers compared the bacterial populations in samples of dental plaque taken from deep cavities in afflicted children, with plaque from matched sites in cavity-free children. They identified species using 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA). Ribosomes are the machinery that translate the genetic code into protein, and 16S rRNA differs among species. Since high acidity causes caries, and since only acid tolerant bacteria can survive in levels of acidity associated with active caries, they cultured bacteria under acidic conditions to select for species likely to play important roles in cariogenesis.
We detected the major caries pathogen of childhood caries, S. mutans, in many of the children with advanced caries, says Tanner. In addition, they the found the new species, S. wiggsiae, in a high proportion of plaque samples from cavities, including in several such samples from which S. mutans was absent. S. wiggsiae can tolerate the level of acidity in active caries, leading the team to speculate that it causes cavities.
Over and above normal dental care, measures to suppress cariogenic bacteria include mouth rinses such as chlorhexidine, Povodine iodine, fluoride, and the use of sugar substitutes, says Tanner. By removing a primary sugar carbohydrate from the diet, the more cariogenic bacteria would make less acid, and might no longer be able to outcompete non-cariogenic plaque bacteria. Managing very young children for severe caries is difficult, and they are often treated under general anaesthesia.
More information: A.C.R. Tanner, et al., 2011. Cultivable anaerobic microbiota of severe early childhood caries. J. Clin. Microbiol. 49:1464-1474
Provided by American Society for Microbiology
-
Forsyth team gains new insight on childhood dental disease
Feb 28, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Streptococcus enzyme could compete with toothbrushes, dental floss
Apr 03, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Seeing through tooth decay
Aug 22, 2008 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Team examines how to rapily assess children's tooth decay risk
Jun 22, 2010 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Topical oral syrup prevents early childhood caries
Jul 05, 2008 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Limits to growth: Scientists identify key metastasis-enabling enzyme
21 hours ago |
5 / 5 (3) |
0
-
Seeing is as seeing does: Spatially-structured retinal input in early development of cortical maps
Apr 26, 2012 |
5 / 5 (4) |
1
-
Dreamless nights: Brain activity during nonrapid eye movement sleep
Apr 09, 2012 |
4.4 / 5 (12) |
0
-
Take your time: Neurobiology sheds light on the superiority of spaced vs. massed learning
Mar 28, 2012 |
4.5 / 5 (21) |
3
-
Your brain on 'shrooms: fMRI elucidates neural correlates of psilocybin psychedelic state
Feb 29, 2012 |
4.9 / 5 (42) |
45
-
Poor nutrition leading to overeating?
5 hours ago
-
Math and dyslexia?
May 21, 2012
-
portable metabolism meter?
May 21, 2012
-
Rare medical conditions on 20/20 tonight
May 18, 2012
-
"Good" Cholesterol in Doubt
May 17, 2012
-
A couple of questions about schizophrenia
May 17, 2012
- More from Physics Forums - Medical Sciences
More news stories
Array of light for early disease detection?
A special feature in this week's issue of the journal Science highlights protein array technology, touching on research conducted by Joshua LaBaer, director of the Biodesign Institute's Virginia G. Piper ...
Medical research
12 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
|
Researchers spearhead groundbreaking research into treatment of brain swelling
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have reported the results of groundbreaking research into the prevention of cerebral oedema or swelling of the brain, a major cause of death in people who have sustained a traumatic injury ...
Medical research
17 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
|
FDA clears test for mastocytosis diagnosis
The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new test to help physicians diagnose a group of rare cell disorders. The test, or assay, was developed by an expert at Virginia Commonwealth University in the field of mast ...
Medical research
17 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
Novel biomarkers reveal evidence of radiation exposure
Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin have identified novel biomarkers that could be used to confirm exposure to damaging radiation in large groups of people potentially exposed to unknown and variable doses for ...
Medical research
17 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
Stem cell research paves way for progress on dealing with Fragile X retardation
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have achieved, for the first time, the generation of neuronal cells from stem cells of Fragile X patients. The discovery paves the way for research that will examine restoration ...
Medical research
19 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
Scientists turn patients' skin cells into heart muscle cells to repair their damaged hearts
For the first time scientists have succeeded in taking skin cells from heart failure patients and reprogramming them to transform into healthy, new heart muscle cells that are capable of integrating with existing heart tissue.
Scientists start explaining Fat Bastard's vicious cycle
Fat Bastard's revelation "I eat because I'm depressed and I'm depressed because I eat" in the Austin Powers film series may be explained by sophisticated neuroscience research being undertaken by scientists affiliated with ...
Socioeconomics may affect toddlers' exposure to flame retardants
A Duke University-led study of North Carolina toddlers suggests that exposure to potentially toxic flame-retardant chemicals may be higher in nonwhite toddlers than in white toddlers.
Kids suffer long-term from parents' smoking: study
Children exposed to their parents' cigarette smoke are at greater risk of suffering serious cardiovascular health problems later in life, a study showed Wednesday.
New study confirms value of cardiac output monitor
(Medical Xpress) -- A new Australian study has confirmed the accuracy of a modern non-invasive cardiac output monitor that can replace a 40-year-old standard in this field.
Breast MRI helps predict chemotherapy's effectiveness
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an indication of a breast tumor's response to pre-surgical chemotherapy significantly earlier than possible through clinical examination, according to a new study published online ...