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S A Syed

Publications and source records attributed to S A Syed.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Survival of human dental plaque flora in various transport media.

Dental plaque samples from (i) subjects with no apparent oral disease, (ii) mentally retarded subjects with periodontal disease, and (iii) subjects with active caries were collected in three transport media viz. a dithiothreitol poised balanced mineral salt solution designated as reduced transport fluid (RTF), VMG II, and modified Stuart medium (SBL). The samples were dispersed by sonic treatment, diluted in the respective medium in which they were collected, and cultured on MM10 sucrose agar. The efficiency of the transport media in the survival of dental plaque flora was determined by comparing the quantitative recovery (expressed as percentage of the initial viable count) from the specimens stored for various lengths of time. The data showed a great variation in the recovery of the oral bacterial flora from the plaque samples. VMG II and SBL served better than RTF as storage media for non-disease-associated dental plaque cultured under strict anaerobic conditions. Recoveries of bacteria from periodontal plaque specimens stored in RTF were higher than SBL and VMG II under identical conditions. The organisms present in the carious plaque samples appeared to survive much better in RTF and VMG II than in SBL as determined by conventional anaerobic culturing technique. However, VMG II showed a higher recovery of organisms from these specimens with an increase in the storage period, suggesting multiplication of the plaque flora. RTF did not allow the growth of oral bacterial flora under all experimental conditions. On the basis of the relative performance of these media it is suggested that RTF is a satisfactory medium for the transport of oral bacteria present in the samples.

Adult↗

Efficiency of various intestinal bacteria in assuming normal functions of enteric flora after association with germ-free mice.

Strictly anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the intestinal tract of normal mice. Germ-free mice were associated with mixtures of varying complexity of pure cultures of these bacteria. The development of normal features in these animals was then determined on the basis of the following criteria: (i) size of the cecum, (ii) size of the Escherichia coli population in the cecum, (iii) histology of the intestinal tract, and (iv) development of a mucosa-associated flora in stomach and large intestine. Germ-free mice contaminated with cecal contents from conventional mice were used as controls to establish normal values for these parameters. Some strictly anaerobic bacteria could be implanted into germ-free mice only after prior implantation of an E. coli strain. E. coli was found in large numbers in stomach and cecum of mice monocontaminated with this organism. Use of restraining devices indicated that the E. coli population in the stomach was maintained by coprophagy and did not contribute significantly to the size of the cecal population. A mixture of 50 strictly anaerobic bacteria plus 80 facultative anaerobes rendered recipient animals normal with respect to the criteria tested. Other, less complex bacterial mixtures reduced the cecal size and the intestinal E. coli population to levels intermediate between those found in normal and germ-free mice. With all bacterial mixtures tested, the intestinal E. coli population decreased, if at all, within a period of about 10 days after introduction of other bacteria, and remained stable thereafter. This suggests that the intestinal E. coli population is controlled by a mechanism which reduces population size without affecting the growth rate.

Journal Article↗

Isolation of anaerobic bacteria from human gingiva and mouse cecum by means of a simplified glove box procedure.

An anaerobic glove box constructed of clear flexible vinyl plastic is described. It is sufficiently inexpensive and simple in operation to be used not only in research but also in a clinical laboratory by technicians without special training. Conventional bacteriological techniques may be used inside the glove box for culturing and transferring anaerobic bacteria. The box may be heated to 37 C and thus serve as an anaerobic incubator as well, permitting inspection of cultures at any time. Media may be prepared and agar plates may be poured on the laboratory bench in the conventional manner. An overlay of trace amounts of palladium black catalyst over plated agar media reduces the medium to an oxidation-reduction (O-R) potential of - 300 mv within 2 days after introduction into the glove box. In spite of its greater simplicity, the system matched or excelled the roll tube method with respect to all parameters tested, including O-R potential obtainable in the media, O(2) concentration in the gas phase, and efficiency in isolating anaerobic bacteria from the mouse cecum. Comparative studies indicate that the conventional anaerobic jar method was inadequate for the isolation of strict anaerobes from human gingival specimens and from the mouse cecum. This was due to the exposure of specimens and media to air during plating on the open laboratory bench. Anaerobic jars were adequate for maintaining the proper conditions for growth of anaerobic bacteria once these had been established in the glove box.

Animals↗