Immunological tests including immunofluorescence microscopy, latex agglutination, flow cytometry, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays are being developed for the detection of carcinogenic microorganisms and periodontal pathogens. In the present study, indirect immunofluorescence microscopy was used to examine two hundred eighty‐three subjects for Actinobacillus (“Haemophilus”) actinomycetemcomitans and Bacteroides gingivalis in subgingival dental plaque samples pooled from the mesial surface of the four first molar teeth. Alveolar bone height on panoramic radiographs was measured at each sample site using a Schei ruler and correlated with the results of immunofluorescence microscopy. Over ninety percent of the subjects did not demonstrate either putative periodonlal pathogen or harbored only trace amounts. Only 5% of the subjects demonstrated 2% or greater A. actinomycclemcomitans and no subject harbored more than 5% consistent with the finding that there were no localized juvenile periodontitis patients in this subject group. Nine percent of the subjects revealed 2% or more, and 5% demonstrated 5% or more of the total cell count as B. gingivalis. K. gingivalis levels, however, did exhibit a significant positive correlation with loss of alveolar bone height. The use of immunofluorescence microscopy for B. gingivalis exhibited 19% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 69% positive predictive value, and 69% negative predictive value when correlated with alveolar bone height measurements. The present data indicate that indirect immunofluorescence microscopy is a useful, rapid method for the detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans and B. gingivalis in subgingival dental plaque which can be used in the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of periodontal disease. The sensitivity of microbiological assays as indicators of periodontal disease can likely be increased by utilization of additional Immunological tests for other putative periodontal pathogens.
Hybridomas were established which produce monoclonal antibodies specific for Bacteroides gingivalis, a pathogen associated with human periodontal disease. Spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with formalinized B. gingivalis were fused with Sp2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells. Of 1,050 wells with positive growth, 60 contained antibody reactive with the immunizing strain of B. gingivalis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expansion of these cultures and cloning by limited dilution resulted in 28 clones which reacted with B. gingivalis but not with other orals and nonoral black-pigmented Bacteroides species or any of 29 representative strains of other oral bacteria. Of these 28 clones, 14 were also specific for B. gingivalis by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. One clone, BBG-12 producing immunoglobulin G2b(kappa), was chosen to identify B. gingivalis in subgingival plaque because of its high reactivity in indirect immunofluorescence assays. This antibody reacted strongly with all 17 representative B. gingivalis strains obtained from diverse sources. Furthermore, when this reagent was applied to subgingival plaque samples, B. gingivalis was stained with high specificity and low background fluorescence, indicating that it may be useful for clinical identification of this organism.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.