Growth, incidence and activities of dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria in the human oral cavity |
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Authors: | Caroline L. Willis Glenn R. Gibson Clive Allison Sandra Macfarlane Jon S. Holt |
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Affiliation: | Medical Research Council Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK; Unilever Research, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Quarry Road East, Bebington, Wirral L63 3JW, UK |
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Abstract: | Abstract Viable counts and activities of sulfate-reducing bacteria were determined in the oral cavities of 12 healthy volunteers. Of these, 10 harboured viable sulfate-reducing bacteria populations. Six separate sites were sampled: the posterior tongue, anterior tongue, mid buccal mucosa, vestibular mucosa, supragingival plaque and subgingival plaque. Sulfate-reducing bacteria occurred in all areas, with the highest incidence in supragingival plaque. Viable counts and sulfate-reducing activities in each of the regions varied from 0 to 108 cfu (g wet weight)−1 and from 0 to 50 nmol (g wet weight) −1 h−1, respectively. As sulfate-reducing bacteria can be detected in the oral cavity, they may potentially be involved in terminal oxidative processes carried out by the microflora of the mouth. |
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Keywords: | Sulfate reduction Oral cavity Plaque biofilms |
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