• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2003

Fusobacterium nucleatum, one of the bacteria causing halitosis, produces the volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) such as $H_2S$ in the media containing sulfur components, and forms FeS by binding with iron component. The various factors of oral cavity affect the concentration of sulfur compounds produced by Fusobacterium nucleatum. In this study, the effect of nutrients and pH on the production of sulfur compounds by Fusobacterium nucleatum was studied with the following results. 1. The optical density of broth was increased to $0.817{\pm}0.032$ and $1.297{\pm}0.024$ by adding 1.0% sodium thiosulfate and 0.05% L-cysteine hydrochloride in the media, respectively. 2. Though the optical density of broth was $0.799{\pm}0.032$ by adding volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) only in the media, it was increased to $1.775{\pm}0.003$ and $1.648{\pm}0.022$ by adding xylitol combined with glucose and fructose, respectively. 3. The concentration of VSC was above 20,000 ppb in the media above pH 5.5. The optical density of broth was still high in the media with L-cysteine hydrochloride of higher concentration, being low in the media of lower pH. 4. The concentration of VSC was high when there was distilled water or saline solution on the media, and their amount was small. These results suggest that the production of sulfur compounds by Fusobacterium nucleatum was inhibited by xylitol and acid.