Biomaterial Database

Differential medium for detecting dental plaque bacteria resembling Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii. 1975

R P Ellen, and I B Balcerzak-Raczkowski

A medium for detecting colonies of Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii in dental plaque samples was developed. The medium (CNAC-20) contains 20.0 mug of 3CdSO4-8H2O per ml of Columbia CNA agar base. Laboratory strains of A. viscosus grew on CNAC-20 in characteristic round, white, smooth, opaque colonies. Increasing the cadmium concentration impaired the growth of some A. viscosus strains. Stock strains of A. naeslundii and A. israelii grew in colonies of similar white, opaque morphology. The few strains of other gram-positive plaque bacteria that grew on CNAC-20 had colonies easily distinguished from those of A. viscosus. Most of the bacterial strains freshly isolated from Actinomyces-like colonies on CNAC-20 that had been inoculated with human dental plaque samples were found to have cultural characteristics consistent with previous descriptions of A. viscosus or A. naeslundii. CNAC-20 may facilitate investigations into the relationship of microaerophilic Actinomyces with the etiology of dental diseases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007778	Lactobacillus	A genus of gram-positive, microaerophilic, rod-shaped bacteria occurring widely in nature. Its species are also part of the many normal flora of the mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina of many mammals, including humans. Lactobacillus species are homofermentative and ferment a broad spectrum of carbohydrates often host-adapted but do not ferment PENTOSES. Most members were previously assigned to the Lactobacillus delbrueckii group. Pathogenicity from this genus is rare.
D010510	Periodontal Diseases	Pathological processes involving the PERIODONTIUM including the gum (GINGIVA), the alveolar bone (ALVEOLAR PROCESS), the DENTAL CEMENTUM, and the PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT.	Parodontosis,Pyorrhea Alveolaris,Disease, Periodontal,Diseases, Periodontal,Parodontoses,Periodontal Disease
D002104	Cadmium	An element with atomic symbol Cd, atomic number 48, and atomic weight 112.41. It is a metal and ingestion will lead to CADMIUM POISONING.
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D003773	Dental Plaque	A film that attaches to teeth, often causing DENTAL CARIES and GINGIVITIS. It is composed of MUCINS, secreted from salivary glands, and microorganisms.	Plaque, Dental
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000190	Actinomyces	A genus of gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria whose organisms are nonmotile. Filaments that may be present in certain species are either straight or wavy and may have swollen or clubbed heads.
D000191	Actinomycetaceae	A family of bacteria including numerous parasitic and pathogenic forms.
D013291	Streptococcus	A genus of gram-positive, coccoid bacteria whose organisms occur in pairs or chains. No endospores are produced. Many species exist as commensals or parasites on man or animals with some being highly pathogenic. A few species are saprophytes and occur in the natural environment.