Real-time PCR과 Colony forming unit법을 이용한 타액 내 2종의 구강미생물 총량분석

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare colony forming unit (CFU) method and multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (MRT-PCR) method for accurate quantitative analysis of bacteria. Methods: We compared the CFU method and the MRT-PCR method, which are still used in Korea, for Prevotella intermedius (P. intermedius), a periodontal disease pathogen selected by MRT-PCR, and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), a dental caries causative organism. The subjects of this study were 30 patients who visited the C dental hospital. Results: Total microorganisms in MRT-PCR method were significantly higher in both types of bacteria (p<0.05), since DNA of dead bacteria was also analyzed. This was because the periodontal dise(-) anaerobes, and even dead bacteria contain large amounts of toxic substances called LPS in the extracellular membrane, and fimbriae and pili, which are motility structures, still remain as a strong toxic substance in periodontal tissue. Conclusions: Therefore, in terms of the total amount of bacteria found, the MRT-PCR method will be a useful technique for searching all the bacteria in the oral cavity including live bacteria, as well as sterilization.