Glucose toxicity effect and accumulation of methylglyoxal by the periodontal anaerobe Bacteroides forsythus.

Growth of the periodontal pathogen Bacteroides forsythus in broth cultures showed inhibition in the presence of 10mM glucose added to the medium. Glucose inhibition in a number of rumen bacteria has been attributed to the accumulation of methylglyoxal (MG), a highly reactive electrophile known to exhibit cytotoxic effects. HPLC analysis revealed elevated concentrations of MG in cultures of seven strains of B.