Prevalence and diversity of Synergistetes taxa in periodontal health and disease. (6th August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: You, M.; Mo, S.; Watt, R. M.; Leung, W. K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of periodontal research. Volume 48:Number 2(2013:Apr.)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 168
• Publication Date: 2012-08-06
• Subjects: Periodontics -- Periodicals; 617.632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0765.2012.01516.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3484

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jre1516-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jre1516-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and Objective</title> <p>Members of the phylum <italic>Synergistetes</italic> have previously been identified within periodontitis subgingival plaque and are considered putative periodontopathogens. This study compared the diversity of subginigval <italic>Synergistetes</italic> in a cohort of subjects with periodontitis (<italic>n</italic> = 10) vs. periodontitis‐free controls (<italic>n</italic> = 10).</p> </sec> <sec id="jre1516-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Material and Methods</title> <p>Pooled subgingival plaque samples from all deep periodontal pockets or all sulci were collected from the periodontitis and periodontitis‐free subjects, respectively. Bacterial 16S rRNA genes were PCR‐amplified from purified subgingival plaque DNA using a <italic>Synergistetes</italic> 'selective' primer set. PCR products were cloned and sequenced to analyze the prevalence and diversity of <italic>Synergistetes</italic> operational taxonomic units (OTUs) present in plaque samples of both subject groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="jre1516-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>A total of 1030 non‐chimeric 16S rRNA clones were obtained, of which 162 corresponded to members of the phylum <italic>Synergistetes</italic>. A significantly larger number of <italic>Synergistetes</italic> clones were obtained from periodontitis subgingival plaque than from periodontitis‐free controls (25.4% vs. 5.9%, <italic>p </italic><<italic> </italic>0.001). All <italic>Synergistetes</italic> clones corresponded to cluster A oral <italic>Synergistetes</italic>, and fell into 31 OTUs (99% sequence identity cut‐off). Twenty‐nine <italic>Synergistetes </italic>OTUs were detected in the periodontitis group while eight were detected in the periodontitis‐free group (<italic>p </italic><<italic> </italic>0.001). Five <italic>Synergistetes </italic>OTUs; including one OTU corresponding to the recently‐characterized species <italic>Fretibacterium fastidiosum</italic>, were more prevalent in the periodontitis subjects (<italic>p </italic><<italic> </italic>0.05).</p> </sec> <sec id="jre1516-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>OTUs belonging to oral <italic>Synergistetes</italic> cluster A were more readily detectable and were more diverse in subgingival plaque from periodontitis subjects compared with periodontitis‐free controls. Specific <italic>Synergistetes </italic>OTUs appear to be associated with periodontitis.</p> </sec> </abstract>