tigurinus was https://www.selleckchem.com/products/SB-431542.html detected by the S. tigurinus specific RT-PCR. Overall, the frequency of S. tigurinus in the saliva and plaque samples SB202190 concentration in

patients with periodontitis did not differ significantly from individuals in the non-periodontitis control group. Both, individuals with or without nicotine consumption, had S. tigurinus in the saliva/plaque samples, independent of the individual’s age. However, it remains to be investigated how S. tigurinus interacts with other oral bacteria and if there might be a similar inhibitory effect. Whole-genome analyses of S. tigurinus revealed the presence of several virulence factors such as fibronectin-binding protein or exfoliative toxin [24], which might differentiate this bacterium from other oral commensal organisms of the normal microbial flora. However, little is understood how exactly S. tigurinus causes

various invasive diseases. An enhanced resistance to phagocytosis by macrophages of S. tigurinus was shown without induction of platelet aggregation [14]. Previous studies have shown that S. tigurinus is a frequent and aggressive pathogen causing infective endocarditis [11,12,14]. For patient management and guidance of appropriate therapy, accurate identification of the causative agent is of major importance. The S. tigurinus specific RT-PCR allows accurate discrimination between S. tigurinus and the most closely related species within the S. mitis group. In future, the S. tigurinus specific RT-PCR might be useful for direct application on clinical samples, TGF-beta/Smad inhibitor e.g.,

heart valves, for timely identifications of the pathogen in a routine diagnostic laboratory. The human oral microbiome is comprised of a bacterial diversity including different phyla, e.g., Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria [5,25]. Viridans streptococci, e.g., S. mitis, are known to be the predominant bacterial species in the human oral cavity and were detected in various dental sites [5]. The present study is the first to show comparatively that S. tigurinus can be detected both in saliva and in subgingival plaque samples, however, it remains of to be determined if the occurrence of S. tigurinus is site specific. It is not surprising that S. tigurinus can be found in saliva in higher frequency than individually selected subgingival sites, since saliva has representatively bacteria from different oral sites including the subgingival area. Saliva has been shown to be a suitable biological fluid, alternative to pooled subgingival plaque samples for detection of oral bacteria such as newly identified Synergistetes [26]. Conclusions We developed a diagnostic, highly sensitive and specific RT TaqMan PCR for direct detection of S. tigurinus in clinical samples. The data of the present study suggests for the first time that S.