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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, March 2002, p. 1001-1009, Vol. 40, No. 3
0095-1137/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.3.1001-1009.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Molecular Analysis of Bacterial Species Associated with Childhood Caries

Mitzi R. Becker,1 Bruce J. Paster,2,3 Eugene J. Leys,4 Melvin L. Moeschberger,5 Sarah G. Kenyon,2 Jamie L. Galvin,2 Susan K. Boches,2 Floyd E. Dewhirst,2,3 and Ann L. Griffen1*

Department of Pediatric Dentistry,1 Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry,4 Division of Epidemiology and Biometrics, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio,5 Department of Molecular Genetics, The Forsyth Institute,2 Department of Oral Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts3

Received 24 July 2001/ Returned for modification 10 October 2001/ Accepted 1 November 2001

Although substantial epidemiologic evidence links Streptococcus mutans to caries, the pathobiology of caries may involve more complex communities of bacterial species. Molecular methods for bacterial identification and enumeration now make it possible to more precisely study the microbiota associated with dental caries. The purpose of this study was to compare the bacteria found in early childhood caries (ECC) to those found in caries-free children by using molecular identification methods. Cloning and sequencing of bacterial 16S ribosomal DNAs from a healthy subject and a subject with ECC were used for identification of novel species or uncultivated phylotypes and species not previously associated with dental caries. Ten novel phylotypes were identified. A number of species or phylotypes that may play a role in health or disease were identified and warrant further investigation. In addition, quantitative measurements for 23 previously known bacterial species or species groups were obtained by a reverse capture checkerboard assay for 30 subjects with caries and 30 healthy controls. Significant differences were observed for nine species: S. sanguinis was associated with health and, in order of decreasing cell numbers, Actinomyces gerencseriae, Bifidobacterium, S. mutans, Veillonella, S. salivarius, S. constellatus, S. parasanguinis, and Lactobacillus fermentum were associated with caries. These data suggest that A. gerencseriae and other Actinomyces species may play an important role in caries initiation and that a novel Bifidobacterium may be a major pathogen in deep caries. Further investigation could lead to the identification of targets for biological interventions in the caries process and thereby contribute to improved prevention of and treatment for this significant public health problem.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: The Ohio State University, 305 W. 12th Ave., P.O. Box 182357, Columbus, OH 43218-2357. Phone: (614) 292-1150. Fax: (614) 292-1125. E-mail: griffen.1{at}osu.edu.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, March 2002, p. 1001-1009, Vol. 40, No. 3
0095-1137/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.3.1001-1009.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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