Production and sensitivity of bacteriocin-like activity among Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Pr. nigrescens strains isolated from periodontal sites

• Published in: Journal of medical microbiology Vol. 47; no. 7; pp. 585 - 589
• Main Authors: TEANPAISAN, R, BAXTER, A. M, DOUGLAS, C. W. I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Soc General Microbiol 01-07-1998; Society for General Microbiology
• Subjects: Adult; Bacteriocins - biosynthesis; Bacteriocins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Bacteroidaceae Infections - microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Dental Plaque - microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Microbiology; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; Periodontitis - microbiology; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Porphyromonas gingivalis - growth & development; Porphyromonas gingivalis - isolation & purification; Porphyromonas gingivalis - metabolism; Prevotella - growth & development; Prevotella - isolation & purification; Prevotella - metabolism; Prevotella intermedia; Prevotella intermedia - growth & development; Prevotella intermedia - isolation & purification; Prevotella intermedia - metabolism; Prevotella nigrescens; Human; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Oral cavity; Sensitivity resistance; Prevotella intermedia; Bacteriocin; Prevotella nigrescens; Bacteria; Gingiva; Clinical isolate; Bacteroidaceae
• ISSN: 0022-2615; 1473-5644
• DOI: 10.1099/00222615-47-7-585

1 Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkhla University, Songkhla, Thailand
2 Departments of Restorative Dentistry, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA
3 Departments of Oral Pathology, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA
Corresponding author: Dr C. W. I. Douglas.
Received October 30, 1997
Accepted December 8, 1997
The production of and sensitivity to bacteriocin-like activity among 44 strains of black-pigmented anaerobes isolated from periodontal sites were evaluated by both an overlay and an agar diffusion method. The species studied were Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and the closely related species Pr. nigrescens. Pr. intermedia strains (90%) produced bacteriocin-like activity against Pr. nigrescens and all Pr. nigrescens were active against Pr. intermedia . Both species showed a high degree of activity against P. gingivalis , whereas only one P. gingivalis strain produced bacteriocin-like activity against either of the other two species. Both Pr. nigrescens and Pr. intermedia showed some activity (40% and 20%, respectively) against other strains of the same species. Such bacteriocin production might be expected to influence the distribution of these black-pigmented species in vivo . Of 224 periodontal sites sampled, only 2.6% yielded mixed cultures of black-pigmented species and of these only one strain, a P. gingivalis isolate, produced bacteriocin-like activity against any of the other strains isolated from these sites. These data support the concept that local production of bacteriocin-like activity in vivo may contribute to the selection of the black-pigmented bacterial profile in subgingival sites.