Targeted antimicrobial activity of a specific IgG-SMAP28 conjugate against Porphyromonas gingivalis in a mixed culture.

Antimicrobial peptides coupled to a ligand, receptor or antibody for a specific pathogenic bacteria could be used to develop narrow-spectrum pharmaceuticals with 'targeted' antimicrobial activity void of adverse reactions often associated with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. To assess the feasibility of this approach, in this study sheep myeloid antimicrobial peptide (SMAP) 28 was linked to affinity- and protein G-purified rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies specific to the outer surface of Porphyromonas gingivalis strain 381. The selective activity of the P. gingivalis IgG-SMAP28 conjugate was then assessed by adding it to an artificially generated microbial community containing P. gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Peptostreptococcus micros. The specificity of the P. gingivalis IgG-SMAP28 conjugate in this mixed culture was concentration-dependent. The conjugate at 50 microg protein/mL lacked specificity and killed P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. micros. The conjugate at 20 microg protein/mL was more specific and killed P. gingivalis. This is an initial step to develop a selective antimicrobial agent that can eliminate a specific periodontal pathogen, such as P. gingivalis, from patients with periodontal disease without harming the normal commensal flora.

Fluoride dentifrice ingestion and fluorosis of the permanent incisors.

BACKGROUND: Fluoride dentifrice is a primary means of preventing childhood caries, but it is also an important risk factor for fluorosis. The authors examine the influence of fluoride dentifrice ingestion on fluorosis of the permanent incisors. METHODS: Participants in the Iowa Fluoride Study received questionnaires at regular intervals concerning fluoride sources. The authors assessed fluorosis using the fluorosis risk index. They estimated daily fluoride ingestion from dentifrice, diet and fluoride supplements and divided the amount by kilograms of body weight. The statistical analysis related fluoride ingestion to fluorosis in the permanent incisors. RESULTS: In bivariate analyses, mild fluorosis was significantly related to ingestion of fluoride dentifrice at ages 24 and 36 months (P = .02 for both). After the authors adjusted for fluoride ingested from dietary sources, logistic regression showed a significant association between fluorosis and dentifrice ingestion at age 24 months (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that fluorosis of the permanent incisors is influenced by ingestion of fluoride dentifrice during the first three years of life. Further research is needed to assess total intake of fluoride as a risk factor for fluorosis. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These results support recommendations that young children use only a pea-sized amount of dentifrice. Parents should supervise young children as they brush their teeth with fluoride dentifrice.

Tooth-brushing and dentifrice use among children ages 6 to 60 months.

PURPOSE: Tooth-brushing and fluoride dentifrice use are the primary oral health activities for young children. Fluoridated dentifrice has had an important impact on the reduction in children's caries lesion rates, but no studies have focused on patterns of use at multiple time points early in life. The purpose of this paper is to describe tooth-brushing and fluoride dentifrice use in a cohort of children from ages 6 to 60 months. METHODS: The data are from the Iowa Fluoride Study, a longitudinal investigation of fluoride intake from birth. Questionnaires assessed tooth-brushing patterns and fluoride dentifrice use at age 6 months, and at 3-, 4-, or 6-month intervals thereafter. RESULTS: At 6 months of age, 28% of the children's teeth were brushed or cleaned, and 3% of these used fluoridated dentifrice, increasing to 95% at 20 months (83% of them with fluoridated dentifrice). Use of dentifrice flavored for children increased from 40% of those brushing at 9 months to 71% at 60 months. From 9 to 32 months, about 55% of the children were using approximately the recommended amount of dentifrice. However, the percentage using more than recommended increased from 12% at 9 months to 64% at 60 months. Mothers placed the dentifrice on the toothbrush 85% of the time at 9 months, 81% at 20 months, 49% at 36 months, and 31% at 60 months. CONCLUSIONS: By age 2, almost all children were brushing with fluoridated dentifrice, but less than half brushed twice a day, even at age 5. Mothers played the most important role in the children's home care habits.