The Use of DNA Probes in Dental Diagnosis and Therapy

¹ Cariology Center and Department of Dental Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Box 611, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, New York 14642

Recombinant DNA technology now allows for the development of genetic probes specific for a growing Lnumber of etiologic disease agents, including those suspected pathogens in the oral environment. The increasing refinement of DNA probe methodologies and sensitivities will ultimately permit their commonplace use with clinical samples for the rapid identification of their bacterial compositions. The use of probe technology potentially offers a much more facile, accurate, and less time-consuming mechanism for the identification of fastidious micro-organisms from the oral cavity, many of which are laborious and difficult to cultivate.

Note:

I thank Drs. Tabak, Mangan, Bowen, and Yasbin of the Dental Research Dept. and Dr. V. Clark and Mr. Robert Burne of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry for very helpful discussion. Further, I thank Dr. Douglas Dickinson of the State University of New York at Buffalo for helpful discussion and communication prior to publication. I also thank Mr. WesBelli of the University of Rochester Department of Microbiology for assistance with the computer-generated Figs.