Detection of mycoplasma fermentans in saliva with a polymerase chain reaction based assay
Date
1994
DOI
Authors
Chingbingyong, Marianne In
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Mycoplasma fermentants and other mycoplasma species have been proposed to be associated with HIV infection. Little is known regarding the ecology of this microorganism. Recently, a polymerase chain reaction based assay which amplifies a 206 base pair region of an insertion-like sequence unique to M.fermentants has been utilized to detect the organism in clinical samples. In the present study, we utilized this assay to detect Mycoplasma fermentants in whole saliva and test the hypothesis that it is present on the mucosal surfaces of the mouth and oropharynx in human populations. Whole saliva was collected from 110 healthy adults. DNA purified from these samples was tested for the presence of Mycoplasma fermentants by the PCR based assay. The 206 base pair amplification product was detected in enthidium bromide-stained polyacrylamide gels in 49 of the 110 (45.5%) samples tested. All samples were confirmed by Southern blotting with a probe based on internal sequence of the expected amplification product. These data suggest that M.fermentants may be present on mucosal surfaces of the mouth and oropharynx in human populations. Saliva may also play a role in its transmission between individuals. In addition, saliva sampling may be helpful in further studies of the ecology and distribution of the microorganism in human populations.
Description
PLEASE NOTE: This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community: please click Download and log in with a valid BU account to access. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact open-help@bu.edu.
Thesis (M.Sc.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1994.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-81)
Thesis (M.Sc.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, 1994.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-81)
License
This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact open-help@bu.edu.