Assessing the oral microbiota of healthy and alcohol-treated rats using whole-genome DNA probes from human bacteria

• Published in: Archives of oral biology Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 317 - 323
• Main Authors: Jabbour, Zaher, Nascimento, Cássio do, Kotake, Bruna Gabriela dos Santos, El-Hakim, Michel, Henderson, Janet E, de Albuquerque Junior, Rubens Ferreira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking; Animals; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacterial Load - drug effects; Biofilms - drug effects; Cross Reactions; Dentistry; DNA checkerboard hybridization; DNA Probes; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - classification; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Ethanol - pharmacology; Genome, Bacterial - genetics; Humans; Mouth - microbiology; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Oral bacteria; Porphyromonas endodontalis; Porphyromonas endodontalis - classification; Porphyromonas endodontalis - drug effects; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - classification; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Streptococcus; Streptococcus - classification; Streptococcus mitis - classification; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus mutans - classification; Veillonella; Veillonella - classification; Rats; Alcohol; Oral bacteria; DNA checkerboard hybridization
• ISSN: 0003-9969; 1879-1506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2012.07.017

Abstract Objective This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of whole-genome DNA probes prepared from human oral bacteria to cross-react with bacteria from the oral cavity of rats, and to assess the influence of alcohol ingestion on the animals’ oral biofilm. Design Twenty four mature Wistar rats were equally divided in two groups. One group (control) was fed balanced diet of rat pellets and water. The alcohol-treated group (AT) received the same diet and 20% ethanol solution. Upon euthanasia after 30 days, bacterial samples from the oral biofilm covering the animals’ teeth were collected using microbrushes. Bacteria identification and quantification were performed using the DNA checkerboard hybridization method with 33 probes prepared from human oral bacteria. Signals corresponding to bacterial genome counts and percentages were compared using a Mann–Whitney U test with a significance level <0.05. Results Cross-reaction for all targeted species, except Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus mitis -like species, occurred in the control group. Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Porphyromonas endodontalis , and Veillonella parvula -like species only produced detectable signals in the AT group. Significantly more signals were detected in the control group compared to the AT group ( p = 0.001). The percentage of E. coli -like species was highest in both groups. Conclusions Whole-genome DNA probes prepared from human oral bacteria can cross-react with rats’ oral bacterial species. Alcohol consumption is associated with lower levels and diversity of bacterial species in the oral cavity of rats.