HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Diaz, P. I. Articles by Rogers, A. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Diaz, P. I. Articles by Rogers, A. H. Agricola Articles by Diaz, P. I. Articles by Rogers, A. H.

Fusobacterium nucleatum supports the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis in oxygenated and carbon-dioxide-depleted environments

Microbiology Laboratory, Dental School, Adelaide University, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia¹

Author for correspondence: A. H. Rogers. Tel: +61 8 8303 5104. Fax: +61 8 8303 3444. e-mail: tony.rogers{at}adelaide.edu.au

The authors compared the differences in tolerance to oxygen of the anaerobic periodontopathic bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis, and explored the possibility that F. nucleatum might be able to support the growth of P. gingivalis in aerated and CO₂-depleted environments. Both micro-organisms were grown as monocultures and in co-culture in the presence and absence of CO₂ and under different aerated conditions using a continuous culture system. At steady state, viable counts were performed and the activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and NADH oxidase/peroxidase were assayed in P. gingivalis. In co-culture, F. nucleatum was able to support the growth of P. gingivalis in aerated and CO₂-depleted environments in which P. gingivalis, as a monoculture, was not able to survive. F. nucleatum not only appeared to have a much higher tolerance to oxygen than P. gingivalis, but a significant increase in its numbers occurred under moderately oxygenated conditions. F. nucleatum might have an additional indirect role in dental plaque maturation, contributing to the reducing conditions necessary for the survival of P. gingivalis and possibly other anaerobes less tolerant to oxygen. Additionally, F. nucleatum is able to generate a capnophilic environment essential for the growth of P. gingivalis.

Keywords: oxidative stress, oral bacteria, anaerobes, interactions, continuous culture

Abbreviations: SEM, scanning electron microscopy; SOD, superoxide dismutase

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Ueda, Y. Tagami, Y. Kamihara, H. Shiratori, H. Takano, and T. Beppu Isolation of Bacteria Whose Growth Is Dependent on High Levels of CO2 and Implications of Their Potential Diversity Appl. Envir. Microbiol., July 15, 2008; 74(14): 4535 - 4538. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. K. Kuramitsu, X. He, R. Lux, M. H. Anderson, and W. Shi Interspecies Interactions within Oral Microbial Communities Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., December 1, 2007; 71(4): 653 - 670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Yang and K. Ma Characterization of an Exceedingly Active NADH Oxidase from the Anaerobic Hyperthermophilic Bacterium Thermotoga maritima J. Bacteriol., April 15, 2007; 189(8): 3312 - 3317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S. Zilm, C. J. Bagley, A. H. Rogers, I. R. Milne, and N. J. Gully The proteomic profile of Fusobacterium nucleatum is regulated by growth pH Microbiology, January 1, 2007; 153(1): 148 - 159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Masuda, Y. Murakami, T. Noguchi, and F. Yoshimura Effects of Various Growth Conditions in a Chemostat on Expression of Virulence Factors in Porphyromonas gingivalis. Appl. Envir. Microbiol., May 1, 2006; 72(5): 3458 - 3467. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Haraldsson, W.P. Holbrook, and E. Kononen Clonal Persistence of Oral Fusobacterium nucleatum in Infancy J. Dent. Res., June 1, 2004; 83(6): 500 - 504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P.S. Kumar, A.L. Griffen, J.A. Barton, B.J. Paster, M.L. Moeschberger, and E.J. Leys New Bacterial Species Associated with Chronic Periodontitis J. Dent. Res., May 1, 2003; 82(5): 338 - 344. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]