Characterization of Dialister Species in Infected Root Canals

Members of the Dialister genus are asaccharolytic obligately anaerobic gram-negative coccobacilli that are culture-difficult or remain uncultivated. Their participation in endodontic infections has been only consistently demonstrated after advent of molecular biology approaches. This study was undertaken to characterize Dialister species in samples from primary endodontic infections using a devised 16S rRNA gene-based group-specific heminested PCR assay followed by sequencing of PCR products. Genomic DNA was isolated directly from clinical samples and used as template for PCR. Amplicons from positive specimens were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed to determine species identity. Ten of 21 clinical samples yielded sequences with the highest percent similarities to oral Dialister species/phylotypes. Seven sequences were from Dialister invisus, and the other three sequences belonged to Dialister pneumosintes, Dialister oral clone BS095 and Dialister sp. clone IS013B24. Findings demonstrated that different Dialister species can take part in the microbiota associated with apical periodontitis lesions.