Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Lactobacillus bulgaricus and assessment of their antibacterial potential / Síntese de nanopartículas de prata usando Lactobacillus bulgaricus e avaliação de seu potencial antibacteriano

Many pathogenic strains have acquired multidrug-resistant patterns in recent a year, which poses a major public health concern. The growing need for effective antimicrobial agents as novel therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens has drawn scientist attention toward nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles are considered capable of killing multidrug-resistant isolates due to their oligo-dynamic effect on microorganisms. In this research study NPs were synthesized using the gram-positive bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and its activity against selected pathogenic strains. Lactobacillus bulgaricus pure cultures were isolated from raw milk and grown in "De Man, Rogasa, and Sharp" broth for synthesis of nanoparticles. Lactobacillus bulgaricus culture was centrifuged and Cellfree supernatant of it was employed with aqueous silvery ions and evaluated their antibacterial activities against bacterial strains i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhi using agar well diffusion assay. Antibiotic profiling against selected pathogenic strains were also conducted using disc diffusion method. The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles were monitored primarily by the conversion of the pale-yellow color of the mixture into a dark-brown color and via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy respectively. The result showed that that AgNPs with size (30.65-100 nm) obtained from Lactobacillus bulgaricus were found to exhibit antibacterial activities against selected bacterial strains. Taken together, these findings suggest that Lactobacillus bulgaricus has great potential for the production of AgNPs with antibacterial activities and highly effective in comparison to tested antibiotics.

Muitas cepas patogênicas adquiriram padrões multirresistentes nos últimos anos, o que representa um grande problema de saúde pública. A crescente necessidade de agentes antimicrobianos eficazes como novas terapias contra patógenos multirresistentes atraiu a atenção dos cientistas para a nanotecnologia. As nanopartículas de prata são consideradas capazes de matar isolados multirresistentes por causa de seu efeito oligodinâmico em microrganismos. Neste estudo de pesquisa, as NPs foram sintetizadas usando a bactéria Gram-positiva Lactobacillus bulgaricus e sua atividade contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas. Culturas puras de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foram isoladas do leite cru e cultivadas em caldo "De Man, Rogasa e Sharp" para síntese de nanopartículas. A cultura de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foi centrifugada, e o sobrenadante livre de células foi empregado com íons prateados aquosos, avaliando-se suas atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas, isto é, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis e Salmonella typhi usando ensaio de difusão em poço de ágar. O perfil de antibióticos contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas também foi conduzido usando o método de difusão em disco. A síntese e a caracterização das nanopartículas de prata foram monitoradas principalmente pela conversão da cor amarelo-pálida da mistura em uma cor marrom-escura e por espectroscopia de absorção visível e ultravioleta e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, respectivamente. O resultado mostrou que AgNPs com tamanho de 30,65-100 nm, obtidas de Lactobacillus bulgaricus, exibiram atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas selecionadas. Tomados em conjunto, esses achados sugerem que o Lactobacillus bulgaricus tem um grande potencial para a produção de AgNPs com atividades antibacterianas e altamente eficazes em comparação aos antibióticos testados.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Lactobacillus bulgaricus and assessment of their antibacterial potential / Síntese de nanopartículas de prata usando Lactobacillus bulgaricus e avaliação de seu potencial antibacteriano

Many pathogenic strains have acquired multidrug-resistant patterns in recent a year, which poses a major public health concern. The growing need for effective antimicrobial agents as novel therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens has drawn scientist attention toward nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles are considered capable of killing multidrug-resistant isolates due to their oligo-dynamic effect on microorganisms. In this research study NPs were synthesized using the gram-positive bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and its activity against selected pathogenic strains. Lactobacillus bulgaricus pure cultures were isolated from raw milk and grown in "De Man, Rogasa, and Sharp" broth for synthesis of nanoparticles. Lactobacillus bulgaricus culture was centrifuged and Cell free supernatant of it was employed with aqueous silvery ions and evaluated their antibacterial activities against bacterial strains i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhi using agar well diffusion assay. Antibiotic profiling against selected pathogenic strains were also conducted using disc diffusion method. The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles were monitored primarily by the conversion of the pale-yellow color of the mixture into a dark-brown color and via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy respectively. The result showed that that AgNPs with size (30.65-100 nm) obtained from Lactobacillus bulgaricus were found to exhibit antibacterial activities against selected bacterial strains. Taken together, these findings suggest that Lactobacillus bulgaricus has great potential for the production of AgNPs with antibacterial activities and highly effective in comparison to tested antibiotics.

Muitas cepas patogênicas adquiriram padrões multirresistentes nos últimos anos, o que representa um grande problema de saúde pública. A crescente necessidade de agentes antimicrobianos eficazes como novas terapias contra patógenos multirresistentes atraiu a atenção dos cientistas para a nanotecnologia. As nanopartículas de prata são consideradas capazes de matar isolados multirresistentes por causa de seu efeito oligodinâmico em microrganismos. Neste estudo de pesquisa, as NPs foram sintetizadas usando a bactéria Gram-positiva Lactobacillus bulgaricus e sua atividade contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas. Culturas puras de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foram isoladas do leite cru e cultivadas em caldo "De Man, Rogasa e Sharp" para síntese de nanopartículas. A cultura de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foi centrifugada, e o sobrenadante livre de células foi empregado com íons prateados aquosos, avaliando-se suas atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas, isto é, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis e Salmonella typhi usando ensaio de difusão em poço de ágar. O perfil de antibióticos contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas também foi conduzido usando o método de difusão em disco. A síntese e a caracterização das nanopartículas de prata foram monitoradas principalmente pela conversão da cor amarelo-pálida da mistura em uma cor marrom-escura e por espectroscopia de absorção visível e ultravioleta e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, respectivamente. O resultado mostrou que AgNPs com tamanho de 30,65-100 nm, obtidas de Lactobacillus bulgaricus, exibiram atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas selecionadas. Tomados em conjunto, esses achados sugerem que o Lactobacillus bulgaricus tem um grande potencial para a produção de AgNPs com atividades antibacterianas e altamente eficazes em comparação aos antibióticos testados.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Lactobacillus bulgaricus and assessment of their antibacterial potential

Abstract Many pathogenic strains have acquired multidrug-resistant patterns in recent a year, which poses a major public health concern. The growing need for effective antimicrobial agents as novel therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens has drawn scientist attention toward nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles are considered capable of killing multidrug-resistant isolates due to their oligo-dynamic effect on microorganisms. In this research study NPs were synthesized using the gram-positive bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and its activity against selected pathogenic strains. Lactobacillus bulgaricus pure cultures were isolated from raw milk and grown in De Man, Rogasa, and Sharp broth for synthesis of nanoparticles. Lactobacillus bulgaricus culture was centrifuged and Cell- free supernatant of it was employed with aqueous silvery ions and evaluated their antibacterial activities against bacterial strains i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhi using agar well diffusion assay. Antibiotic profiling against selected pathogenic strains were also conducted using disc diffusion method. The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles were monitored primarily by the conversion of the pale-yellow color of the mixture into a dark-brown color and via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy respectively. The result showed that that AgNPs with size (30.65-100 nm) obtained from Lactobacillus bulgaricus were found to exhibit antibacterial activities against selected bacterial strains. Taken together, these findings suggest that Lactobacillus bulgaricus has great potential for the production of AgNPs with antibacterial activities and highly effective in comparison to tested antibiotics.

Resumo Muitas cepas patogênicas adquiriram padrões multirresistentes nos últimos anos, o que representa um grande problema de saúde pública. A crescente necessidade de agentes antimicrobianos eficazes como novas terapias contra patógenos multirresistentes atraiu a atenção dos cientistas para a nanotecnologia. As nanopartículas de prata são consideradas capazes de matar isolados multirresistentes por causa de seu efeito oligodinâmico em microrganismos. Neste estudo de pesquisa, as NPs foram sintetizadas usando a bactéria Gram-positiva Lactobacillus bulgaricus e sua atividade contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas. Culturas puras de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foram isoladas do leite cru e cultivadas em caldo De Man, Rogasa e Sharp para síntese de nanopartículas. A cultura de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foi centrifugada, e o sobrenadante livre de células foi empregado com íons prateados aquosos, avaliando-se suas atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas, isto é, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis e Salmonella typhi usando ensaio de difusão em poço de ágar. O perfil de antibióticos contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas também foi conduzido usando o método de difusão em disco. A síntese e a caracterização das nanopartículas de prata foram monitoradas principalmente pela conversão da cor amarelo-pálida da mistura em uma cor marrom-escura e por espectroscopia de absorção visível e ultravioleta e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, respectivamente. O resultado mostrou que AgNPs com tamanho de 30,65-100 nm, obtidas de Lactobacillus bulgaricus, exibiram atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas selecionadas. Tomados em conjunto, esses achados sugerem que o Lactobacillus bulgaricus tem um grande potencial para a produção de AgNPs com atividades antibacterianas e altamente eficazes em comparação aos antibióticos testados.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Lactobacillus bulgaricus and assessment of their antibacterial potential / Síntese de nanopartículas de prata usando Lactobacillus bulgaricus e avaliação de seu potencial antibacteriano

Many pathogenic strains have acquired multidrug-resistant patterns in recent a year, which poses a major public health concern. The growing need for effective antimicrobial agents as novel therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens has drawn scientist attention toward nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles are considered capable of killing multidrug-resistant isolates due to their oligo-dynamic effect on microorganisms. In this research study NPs were synthesized using the gram-positive bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and its activity against selected pathogenic strains. Lactobacillus bulgaricus pure cultures were isolated from raw milk and grown in "De Man, Rogasa, and Sharp" broth for synthesis of nanoparticles. Lactobacillus bulgaricus culture was centrifuged and Cell free supernatant of it was employed with aqueous silvery ions and evaluated their antibacterial activities against bacterial strains i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhi using agar well diffusion assay. Antibiotic profiling against selected pathogenic strains were also conducted using disc diffusion method. The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles were monitored primarily by the conversion of the pale-yellow color of the mixture into a dark-brown color and via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy respectively. The result showed that that AgNPs with size (30.65-100 nm) obtained from Lactobacillus bulgaricus were found to exhibit antibacterial activities against selected bacterial strains. Taken together, these findings suggest that Lactobacillus bulgaricus has great potential for the production of AgNPs with antibacterial activities and highly effective in comparison to tested antibiotics.(AU)

Muitas cepas patogênicas adquiriram padrões multirresistentes nos últimos anos, o que representa um grande problema de saúde pública. A crescente necessidade de agentes antimicrobianos eficazes como novas terapias contra patógenos multirresistentes atraiu a atenção dos cientistas para a nanotecnologia. As nanopartículas de prata são consideradas capazes de matar isolados multirresistentes por causa de seu efeito oligodinâmico em microrganismos. Neste estudo de pesquisa, as NPs foram sintetizadas usando a bactéria Gram-positiva Lactobacillus bulgaricus e sua atividade contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas. Culturas puras de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foram isoladas do leite cru e cultivadas em caldo "De Man, Rogasa e Sharp" para síntese de nanopartículas. A cultura de Lactobacillus bulgaricus foi centrifugada, e o sobrenadante livre de células foi empregado com íons prateados aquosos, avaliando-se suas atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas, isto é, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis e Salmonella typhi usando ensaio de difusão em poço de ágar. O perfil de antibióticos contra cepas patogênicas selecionadas também foi conduzido usando o método de difusão em disco. A síntese e a caracterização das nanopartículas de prata foram monitoradas principalmente pela conversão da cor amarelo-pálida da mistura em uma cor marrom-escura e por espectroscopia de absorção visível e ultravioleta e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, respectivamente. O resultado mostrou que AgNPs com tamanho de 30,65-100 nm, obtidas de Lactobacillus bulgaricus, exibiram atividades antibacterianas contra cepas bacterianas selecionadas. Tomados em conjunto, esses achados sugerem que o Lactobacillus bulgaricus tem um grande potencial para a produção de AgNPs com atividades antibacterianas e altamente eficazes em comparação aos antibióticos testados.(AU)

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Lactobacillus bulgaricus and assessment of their antibacterial potential.

Many pathogenic strains have acquired multidrug-resistant patterns in recent a year, which poses a major public health concern. The growing need for effective antimicrobial agents as novel therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens has drawn scientist attention toward nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles are considered capable of killing multidrug-resistant isolates due to their oligo-dynamic effect on microorganisms. In this research study NPs were synthesized using the gram-positive bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and its activity against selected pathogenic strains. Lactobacillus bulgaricus pure cultures were isolated from raw milk and grown in "De Man, Rogasa, and Sharp" broth for synthesis of nanoparticles. Lactobacillus bulgaricus culture was centrifuged and Cell- free supernatant of it was employed with aqueous silvery ions and evaluated their antibacterial activities against bacterial strains i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhi using agar well diffusion assay. Antibiotic profiling against selected pathogenic strains were also conducted using disc diffusion method. The synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles were monitored primarily by the conversion of the pale-yellow color of the mixture into a dark-brown color and via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy respectively. The result showed that that AgNPs with size (30.65-100 nm) obtained from Lactobacillus bulgaricus were found to exhibit antibacterial activities against selected bacterial strains. Taken together, these findings suggest that Lactobacillus bulgaricus has great potential for the production of AgNPs with antibacterial activities and highly effective in comparison to tested antibiotics.

Mechanism of pingyangmycin-induced apoptosis of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

In this study, we investigated the effects of pingyangmycin (PYM) on the growth inhibition and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In this study, we aimed to explore the optimal concentration of PYM to induce the apoptosis of HUVEC and to determine its mechanism of action. After treatment of HUVEC with different concentrations of PYM for 24 h, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect growth inhibiting effects. Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide stain was used to detect apoptosis, and western blot was used to detect the expression of glucose-related protein 78 (GPR78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins. With increasing PYM concentration, the growth inhibition of HUVEC increased (P < 0.05), the apoptotic numbers of HUVEC increased (P < 0.05), with higher PYM concentrations inducing necrosis, and the protein expression of GRP78 and CHOP increased (P < 0.05). PYM could obviously inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of HUVEC. Necrotic cells were more prevalent than apoptotic cells at high PYM concentrations. This study helped to determine the proper concentration of PYM to induce more apoptosis than necrosis, which is critical to minimize inflammation, enhance the healing of the skin, and maintain safety for the patient. PYM might induce HUVEC apoptosis through the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.

Sequence analysis of peste des petits ruminants virus from ibexes in Xinjiang, China.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an infectious disease caused by peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). While PPR mainly affects domestic goats and sheep, it also affects wild ungulates such as ibex, blue sheep, and gazelle, although there are few reports regarding PPRV infection in wild animals. Between January 2015 and February 2015, it was found for the first time that wild ibexes died from PPRV infection in Bazhou, Xinjiang, China, where a total of 38 ibexes (including young and adult ibexes) were found to have died abnormally from PPR-related issues. First, we tested for the presence of the F gene of PPRV by RT-PCR. Then, we compared the sequence of the isolated F gene from the ibex strain, termed PPRV Xinjiang/Ibex/2015, with those previously identified from small domestic ruminants from local areas near where the reported isolate was collected as well as those from other regions. The current sequence was phylogenetically classified as a lineage IV virus, and shared a high level of sequence identity (99.7%) with a previously described Xinjiang PPRV isolate.

Altered expression of piRNAs and their relation with clinicopathologic features of breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are endogenous regulatory non-coding RNAs which are generally expressed in the germline across animal species. The expressions of piRNAs in tumor tissue were rarely reported until now. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of piRNAs in breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Deep sequencing was carried out in four tumor and four matched non-tumor tissues from resected breast cancer cases to screen out differentially expressed piRNAs. Furthermore, the result was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology in 50 patients with breast cancer and the piRNA expression levels were correlated with clinicopathologic features. RESULTS: Through deep sequencing, six differentially expressed piRNAs were screened out (5 up- and 1 down-regulated) in the four tumor tissues compared with matched non-tumor tissues. Among them, 4 piRNAs (piR-4987, piR-20365, piR-20485 and piR-20582) were confirmed to be up-regulated by realtime RT-PCR in 50 breast cancer (P < 0.001). Moreover, up-regulated piR-4987 expression was associated with lymph node positivity (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PiRNAs might play a role in breast cancer and act as tumor markers.

Ischemic post-conditioning attenuates the intestinal injury induced by limb ischemia/reperfusion in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of ischemic post-conditioning on damage to the barrier function of the small intestine caused by limb ischemia-reperfusion injury. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (N = 36 each): sham operated (group S), lower limb ischemia-reperfusion (group LIR), and post-conditioning (group PC). Each group was divided into subgroups (N = 6) according to reperfusion time: immediate (0 h; T1), 1 h (T2), 3 h (T3), 6 h (T4), 12 h (T5), and 24 h (T6). In the PC group, 3 cycles of reperfusion followed by ischemia (each lasting 30 s) were applied immediately. At all reperfusion times (T1-T6), diamine oxidase (DAO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) intestinal tissue concentrations, plasma endotoxin concentrations, and serum DAO, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations were measured in sacrificed rats. Chiu’s pathology scores for small intestinal mucosa were determined under a light microscope and showed that damage to the small intestinal mucosa was lower in group PC than in group LIR. In group PC, tissue DAO and SOD concentrations at T2 to T6, and IL-10 concentrations at T2 to T5 were higher than in group LIR (P < 0.05); however, tissue MPO and MDA concentrations, and serum DAO and plasma endotoxin concentrations at T2 to T6, as well as TNF-α at T2 and T4 decreased significantly (P < 0.05). These results show that ischemic post-conditioning attenuated the permeability of the small intestines after limb ischemia-reperfusion injury. The protective mechanism of ischemic post-conditioning may be related to inhibition of oxygen free radicals and inflammatory cytokines that cause organ damage.

Ischemic post-conditioning attenuates the intestinal injury induced by limb ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of ischemic post-conditioning on damage to the barrier function of the small intestine caused by limb ischemia-reperfusion injury. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (N = 36 each): sham operated (group S), lower limb ischemia-reperfusion (group LIR), and post-conditioning (group PC). Each group was divided into subgroups (N = 6) according to reperfusion time: immediate (0 h; T1), 1 h (T2), 3 h (T3), 6 h (T4), 12 h (T5), and 24 h (T6). In the PC group, 3 cycles of reperfusion followed by ischemia (each lasting 30 s) were applied immediately. At all reperfusion times (T1-T6), diamine oxidase (DAO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) intestinal tissue concentrations, plasma endotoxin concentrations, and serum DAO, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations were measured in sacrificed rats. Chiu's pathology scores for small intestinal mucosa were determined under a light microscope and showed that damage to the small intestinal mucosa was lower in group PC than in group LIR. In group PC, tissue DAO and SOD concentrations at T2 to T6, and IL-10 concentrations at T2 to T5 were higher than in group LIR (P < 0.05); however, tissue MPO and MDA concentrations, and serum DAO and plasma endotoxin concentrations at T2 to T6, as well as TNF-α at T2 and T4 decreased significantly (P < 0.05). These results show that ischemic post-conditioning attenuated the permeability of the small intestines after limb ischemia-reperfusion injury. The protective mechanism of ischemic post-conditioning may be related to inhibition of oxygen free radicals and inflammatory cytokines that cause organ damage.

Testing for gene-gene interaction controlling total IgE in families from Barbados: evidence of sensitivity regarding linkage heterogeneity among families.

Genetic heterogeneity has been proposed as a hallmark feature of allergic disease. To test the hypothesis that total IgE levels are jointly influenced by a locus on chromosome 12q21.1-q21.31 and a locus on 17q11.2-q21.2, we conducted multipoint allele-sharing analyses using nonparametric linkage (NPL) methods on Afro-Caribbean families from Barbados to test for evidence of gene-gene interactions. Significant correlations were observed between NPL scores at D12S1052 and both D17S1293 and D17S1299 for a dichotomized phenotype of total IgE. An analysis of family-specific NPL scores revealed that evidence for interaction was being driven largely by one multiplex pedigree (NPL = 12.01, 12.23, and 12.16 at D12S1052, D17S1293, and D17S1299, respectively). Using the programs SIMWALK (v2.0) and GOLD, a different set of haplotypes in this influential family was observed around D12S1052 and the 17q loci compared to the other Barbados pedigrees. Our findings are a classic example of founder effect, provide evidence for sensitivity of this type of linkage analysis to unusual pedigrees, and highlight an element of genetic heterogeneity that has been given little attention in the study of complex traits.

Dental caries experience, tooth loss, and factors associated with unmet needs of Haitian immigrants in New York City.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the dental caries experience, tooth loss, and unmet need of a group of Haitian immigrant residents of New York City. METHODS: A purposive sample of 523 adults was obtained through community outreach activities during 1997-98. Clinical examinations were performed by calibrated examiners, according to NIDCR criteria. A comprehensive survey also was administered to all the participants. RESULTS: For the whole group, the mean number of missing teeth was 2.64 (SD = 4.12), the mean DMFT = 6.05 (SD = 5.26), the mean DMFS = 18.80 (SD = 21.04), and the mean DFS = 5.58 (SD = 6.17). Seventeen percent of the subjects had all their teeth sound, 59 percent had at least one tooth missing, 60 percent had at least one decayed tooth, and only 38 percent had restorations. Multivariate analyses showed that age, sex, education, dental insurance, frequency of dental visits, and dental floss use were predictors of unmet need. CONCLUSIONS: Although results showed a relatively low caries experience among this group of Haitian immigrants, the unmet need was very high. Furthermore, the tooth loss experience was relatively high for all age groups, further denoting a lack of access to preventive and restorative services.