Table 1. Distribution of ApoE^null mice oral microbial samples positive for bacterial genomic DNA by PCR.

	No. of oral microbial samples positive for bacterial genomic DNA
	P. gingivalis				T. denticola				T. forsythia
	2 wka	8 wk	14 wk	16 wk	2 wk	8 wk	14 wk	16 wk	2 wk	8 wk	14 wk	16 wk
Infectedb n = 15	10	15	15	13	0	15	13	13	1	15	15	14
Controlc n = 10	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

^aIndicate time points at which oral microbial samples were collected (2, 8, 14, and 16 weeks) following polymicrobial infection for determination of microbial colonization by species specific PCR analysis.

^bIndicate mice were infected for 8 alternate weeks with P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia. Samples were analyzed using appropriate specific PCR primers with positive and negative controls.

^cOral microbial samples were collected from sham-infected control mice periodically and examined for P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia using bacteria specific primers and all mice were negative. - Indicate oral microbial samples negative by PCR analysis. Pg-indicate P. gingivalis; Td-indicate T. denticola; and Tf-indicate T. forsythia.