ISOLATION OF AN ORAL FILAMENTOUS MICROORGANISM,

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Abstract
Sixty strains of an oral gram-positive filamentous organism resembling types previously placed in the genera Leptothrix or Leptotrichia were isolated in pure culture from materia alba, caries, and calculus from the mouths of 20 human subjects. The organism exhibits 3 cell types: a bacillus-like body attached to one or more filaments, filaments, and bacillus-like bodies, the predominant type being a non-septate filament attached to a bacillus-like body. Brain-heart-infusion (Difco) agar, supplemented with 0.2% yeast extract, supported good growth, and was suitable for maintenance of cultures. All strains of the organism are facultative, preferring a slightly reduced O2 tension upon primary isolation. Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic cultures shows that branching occurs regularly in aerobic colonies and extremely rarely in anaerobic colonies, and variations in colonial morphology occur more readily following continued aerobic subculture. Methods of isolation and colony morphologies are described.

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