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Characterisation of the bacterial flora of the larynx
Author(s) -
Gillett S.,
Rees L.,
Coogan T.,
Birchall M.,
Bailey M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2273.2006.01341_16.x
Subject(s) - glottis , fastidious organism , microbiological culture , flora (microbiology) , larynx , biology , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , fusobacteria , dna sequencing , polymerase chain reaction , medicine , 16s ribosomal rna , genetics , gene , anatomy , bacteroidetes
Objectives: Damage to epithelial integrity has been implicated in inflammatory disease and neoplasia. Bacterial species such as Pseudomonas and Helicobacter have been shown to cause disease by tight cell junction breakdown and loss of epithelial integrity in the gut (1) There has been one description of the bacterial flora of the human larynx and its variation between individuals, using traditional culture techniques. (2) Sub‐site variation has not been characterised. We have compared methods of bacterial species identification and laryngeal sub‐site variation. Methods: Bacteria were identified by sequencing of variable regions of the 16S RNA gene, obtained by PCR amplification of DNA from supra‐ and sub‐glottic laryngeal biopsies from pigs. Sequences were aligned with those of known bacteria using the blast nucleotide search engine. Concurrently, bacterial swabs from each larynx subsite were plated on to blood agar. Bacterial colonies isolated by this method were identified by 16S sequencing. Results: A total of 6 Bacterial species were identified in the supra‐glottis compared to eight identified in the sub‐glottis by culture techniques. 10 bacterial species were identified in the supra‐glottis by cloning techniques, including fastidious species. Conclusion: Bacterial species vary between supra and sub‐glottis.Cloning techniques are superior at identifying bacterial species when compared with traditional culture techniques. References 1 Sawada N et al . (2003) Med. Electron Microsc. 36 ,147–156 2 Tanaka I et al . (1996) Acta Otoloaryngol. 525 (Suppl.), S44–50