JP4111747B2

JP4111747B2 - Microbial collection method

Info

Publication number: JP4111747B2
Application number: JP2002141644A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 義高矢納; 高久山城; 滋人芽根; 隆明上村; 勝俊荒
Original assignee: Kao Corp
Current assignee: Kao Corp
Priority date: 2002-05-16
Filing date: 2002-05-16
Publication date: 2008-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-16
Also published as: JP2003334059A

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microorganism collection apparatus with which microorganisms are quantitatively and readily collected from a collection part and the inhabitation state of the microorganisms is grasped in excellent precision. <P>SOLUTION: The microorganism collection apparatus 10 is used as an apparatus for collecting the microorganisms mainly from a part in the oral cavity and has a microorganism collection part 13 equipped with a collection face 12 which is pressed against a face 11 that is stuck with the microorganisms and is to be collected so as to collect the microorganisms and a quantitative movement generation part 14 which produces quantitative movement of the collection face 12 pressed against the face 11 to be collected. The collection face 12 of the microorganism collection part 13 is preferably made of a synthetic material, a natural material, a metal material, etc. The quantitative movement of the collection face 12 is preferably repetitive motion or vibratory motion in the rotation direction, vertical direction, longitudinal direction or lateral direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、微生物採取装置及び微生物採取方法に関し、特に微生物類が付着した被採取面から定量的に微生物類を採取するための微生物採取装置及び微生物採取方法に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術及び発明が解決しようとする課題】
例えば皮膚、歯、咽頭、舌等の生体組織表面や動植物等の組織表面、或いは義歯、おむつ、衣類等の生体装着物の表面の他、キッチン、風呂、配水管、便器及び便座等の水廻り施設の表面、机、床、壁、フィルター面等の表面、洗濯機、冷蔵庫等の電気機器類等の表面などの居住環境における硬質表面や、その他の工場や施設における微生物類の存在が危惧される表面には、通常、細菌類等を含む種々の微生物類が生息しているが、このような微生物類の生息状況を適切に把握して各種の対応策を施すことにより、病原性微生物による感染を防御したり、日常生活における衛生や環境の改善を図ることが可能になる。
【０００３】
このような微生物類の生息状況を把握するには、上述のような微生物類が生息している生体組織や水廻り施設等から微生物類を直接採取する方法が一般的に採用されており、かかる微生物類を採取する方法としては、綿棒等で検査部位を擦って微生物類を採取する方法である擦過法や、一定面積の培地を検査部位にスタンプして微生物類を採取する方法であるスタンプ法、或いは一定面積のカップを採取部位に装着し、水などの溶媒を添加攪拌して微生物類を採取する方法であるカップ法等が知られている。
【０００４】
一方、微生物類の生息状況を比較考量してより効果的な対応策を施すためには、検査部位から定量的に微生物類を採取する必要があるが、上記従来の採取方法によれば、微生物類の採取部位によって採取の程度にバラツキが生じやすく、微生物類の生息状況を精度良く把握することが困難である。
【０００５】
すなわち、擦過法によれば、綿棒等で採取部位を擦って採取する方法であるため、採取面積を一定のものとして規格化することが難しく、また擦過する際の応力を一定に保持することも難しいことから、定量的に微生物を採取することが困難である。またスタンプ法やカップ法によれば、採取部位に強固に付着した微生物類の採取が困難であると共に、凹凸形状等の形状が一定しない部位や限られた狭い部位から微生物類を採取することが困難である。
【０００６】
本発明は、採取部位から微生物類を定量的かつ容易に採取することを可能にして、微生物類の生息状況を精度良く把握させることのできる微生物採取装置及び微生物採取方法を提供することを目的とする。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、微生物類が付着した被採取面に押し当てて微生物類を採取する採取面を備える微生物採取部と、前記被採取面に押し当てた前記採取面に定量的な運動を生じさせる定量運動発生部とを有する微生物採取装置を提供することにより、上記目的を達成したものである。
【０００８】
また、本発明は、所定面積の採取面を備える微生物採取部を微生物類が付着した被採取面に押し当て、押し当てた前記採取面に定量的な運動を生じさせつつ微生物類を採取する微生物採取方法を提供することにより、上記目的を達成したものである。
【０００９】
上記記載において、微生物類の被採取面に押し当てて微生物類を付着させる微生物採取部の採取面は、例えば合成素材、天然素材、金属素材の１種又は２種以上を組み合わせた素材から形成することができる。ここで、合成素材としては、ポリエチレン、ポリプロピレン、ポリウレタン、ＰＥＴ、レーヨン、アクリル、ビニール等からなる紙、織布、不織布、板、ブラシ等を用いることができ、天然素材としては、木綿、絹、木材、寒天等からなる紙、織布、不織布、板、ブラシ等を用いることができる。また金属素材としては、鉄、アルミニウム等からなる織布、不織布、板、ブラシ等を用いることができる。また、これらの素材を発泡させたり、寒天等のゲル化剤を用いて適当な強度となるように調整しても良い。
【００１０】
また、上記被採取面に押し当てた採取面に生じさせる定量的な運動としては、例えば回転方向の連続、反復、若しくは振動運動、上下方向の反復、若しくは振動運動、又は縦横方向の反復、若しくは振動運動の１種又は２種以上の動をき伴う運動を採用することができる。なお、これらの運動は、回転速度や振幅、振動周期等を被採取面の性状等に応じて予め設定することにより、定量的な運動として採取面に容易に生じさせることが可能になる。
【００１１】
そして、本発明によれば、例えば皮膚、歯、咽頭、舌等の生体組織表面や、キッチン、風呂、排水管等の水廻り施設におけるタイル、目地等の硬質表面の他、上述のような微生物類が付着している各種の被採取面の性状等に応じて予め設定された、所定の形状、面積を有する微生物採取部の採取面を当該被採取面に押し当て、押し当てた所定の形状、面積の領域から定量的に微生物類を採取することが可能になると共に、採取面に定量的な運動を生じさせ、この状態を例えば数秒〜数分間保持するだけの簡易な操作によって、強固に付着した細微生物をも被採取面から引き剥がすことが可能になる。これによって所定の形状、面積の採取部位から微生物類を定量的かつ容易に採取することが可能になり、また当該被採取面における微生物類の生息状況を精度良く把握することが可能になる。
【００１２】
また、微生物採取部の採取面を、形状が一定しない被採取面に沿った形状や限られた狭い被採取面に沿った形状である凹凸形状としておくことにより、例えば連設する歯面による凹凸形状や歯間といった限られた狭い隙間等の被採取面に対しても、定量的かつ容易に微生物類を採取することが可能になり、また凹部の狭小な部位からも微生物類を定量的かつ容易に採取することが可能になる。
【００１３】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１に示す本発明の好ましい一実施形態に係る微生物採取装置１０は、微生物類が付着した被採取面として、例えば生体組織表面である口腔内の舌の表面から、微生物類を定量的に採取するべく用いられるものである。
【００１４】
そして、本実施形態の微生物採取装置１０は、微生物類の被採取面である舌の表面に押し当てて微生物類を採取する採取面１１を備える微生物採取部１２と、舌の表面に押し当てた採取面１１に定量的な運動を生じさせる定量運動発生部１３とによって構成されている。
【００１５】
また本実施形態によれば、微生物採取装置１０は、いわゆる電動歯ブラシに似た構成を備え、ハンドル部１４と、首部１５と、頭部１６とからなる装置本体１７の頭部１６には、採取面１１を側方に向けて配置した状態で微生物採取部１２が取り付けられている。
【００１６】
微生物採取装置１０の微生物採取部１２は、直径が例えば１〜５０ｍｍ程度、厚さが例えば０．１〜３０ｍｍ程度の円盤若しくは円形ドラム形状を有している。また本実施形態によれば、採取面１１は、舌の表面からの微生物類の採取に適した例えば０．００８〜２０ｃｍ²程度の面積を有している。
【００１７】
微生物採取装置１０の定量運動発生部１３は、装置本体１７の頭部１６に収容された振動子等からなり、例えば装置本体１７のハンドル部１４に収容された電動モータからの駆動力を首部１５に収容された伝達機構を介して振動子に伝達し、この振動子を回転運動させることにより、微生物採取部１２及び採取面１１に回転振動による定量的な運動を生じさせることができるようになっている。なお、本実施形態によれば、舌の表面からの微生物類の採取に適するように、振動子が例えば１〜３６０度角、６〜６０００ｒｐｍ程度の回転数で反転運動するように調整している。
【００１８】
そして、本実施形態の微生物採取装置１０を用いて舌の表面に付着した微生物類を採取するには、例えば蒸留水を１０ｍＬ程度口に含んで１０秒程度洗口した後、微生物採取部１２の採取面１１を舌の表面の所定箇所に押し当て、電動モータを駆動して押し当てた採取面１１に定量的な回転振動を生じさせつつ、この状態を例えば０．５〜６０秒間程度保持する。このような操作によって、微生物類の採取部位は、採取面１１が押し当てられた領域により区画され、所定の面積に容易に規格化されると共に、採取面１１が定量運動することにより強固に付着した細微生物をも舌の表面から容易に剥離することができ、これによって規格化された同じ面積の採取部位から微生物類を定量的かつ容易に採取することが可能になる。
【００１９】
また、採取面１１を所定時間押し当てて舌の表面に付着した微生物類を採取したら、採取面１１を舌の表面から離間すると共に、微生物採取部１２を微生物採取装置１０から取り外し、新しい微生物採取部１２を装着し直すことにより、舌の表面の他の採取部位からの微生物類の採取を行うことが可能になる。
【００２０】
そして、本実施形態の微生物採取装置１０によれば、微生物類の生息状況を精度良く把握させることができる。すなわち、上述のようにして舌の表面の様々な採取部位から微生物類を採取した微生物採取部１２の採取面１１を、例えば３ｍＬ程度のリン酸緩衝生理食塩水（ＰＢＳ）に入れて１０秒程度攪拌することにより、採取された微生物類を採取面１１から容易に分離できると共に、微生物類の分散溶液として容易に調整することができる。また、微生物類の分散溶液を希釈する作業を数回繰り返した後に、得られた微生物類の希釈液を培地に播種して例えば３７℃程度で１〜２日程度培養し、生育された集落の数をカウントすることによって、微生物類の生息数を把握することが可能になる。本実施形態によれば、採取面１２を押し当てた規格化された同じ面積の採取部位から、採取面１１に微生物類がその採取方法にバラツキを生じること無く定量的かつ容易に採取されているので、培養した培地に形成された集落の数や種類をカウントすることによって、採取部位における微生物類の生息状況を精度良く把握することが可能になる。
【００２１】
なお、本発明は上記実施形態に限定されることなく種々の変更が可能である。例えば、本発明の微生物採取装置及び微生物採取方法は、舌の表面に限定されることなく、皮膚、歯、咽頭等のその他の生体組織表面や動植物等の組織表面、或いは義歯、おむつ、衣類等の生体装着物の表面の他、キッチン、風呂、配水管、便器及び便座等の水廻り施設の表面、机、床、壁、フィルター面等の表面、洗濯機、冷蔵庫等の電気機器類等の表面などの居住環境における硬質表面や、その他の工場や施設における微生物類の存在が危惧される表面等を被採取面として、微生物類を採取することもできる。また、微生物採取部の採取面を、例えば連設する歯面による凹凸や歯間といった限られた狭い隙間等の形状が一定しない被採取面に沿った形状としておくこともでき、これによって凹凸や隙間等を有する被採取面に対しても、定量的かつ容易に微生物類を採取することが可能になり、また凹部の狭小な部位からも容易に微生物類を採取することが可能になる。さらに、微生物採取部の採取面は、合成素材の他、天然素材や金属素材等を用いて形成することもでき、また採取面の定量的な運動は、回転方向の運動の他、上下方向や縦横方向の反復運動や振動運動であっても良く、振動子の回転角度、回転数も上記実施形態に限定されるものではない。さらにまた、電動歯ブラシに似た構成を備えている必要は必ずしもない。
【００２２】
【実施例】
以下、実施例１により、本発明をさらに詳細に説明するが、本発明はこれに限定されるものではない。
【００２３】
〔実施例１及び採取精度の評価〕
上記実施形態の微生物採取装置１０と同様の構成を有する微生物採取装置を実施例１の微生物採取装置として、採取精度の評価を行った。なお、微生物採取部（ヘッド部）１２として直径１２ｍｍのものを使用し、直径１２ｍｍ、厚み１ｍｍのポリエチレンを素材とする不織布をヘッド部の先端に装着して、採取面１１とした。また、定量運動発生部の定量運動は、振動子を７２度角、３０００ｒｐｍで反転運動させる運動とした。
【００２４】
採取精度の評価は、実施例１の微生物採取装置を男性ボランティア３名に実際に使用してもらうことにより行った。すなわち、舌の先端から舌根部に向かって正中線に沿って４ｃｍ入った部位（以下、「舌中部」とする。）を採取部位として、採取面を３秒間押し当て、舌の表面に付着した微生物類を採取した。直ちにヘッド部を３ｍＬのＰＢＳに入れて１０秒間程度撹拌し、微生物類の分散溶液を調整した。これらの分散溶液をＰＢＳによって任意に希釈することにより希釈液を調整した後、好気性細菌検査用培地（ＳＣＤ寒天培地；ＢＢＬ）に規定量播種し、好気条件下、３７℃で２日間培養した後、生育された集落の数をカウントした。同じ操作を連続して３日間同時刻に実施し、バラツキ、再現性の検討を行った。評価結果を図２に示す。
【００２５】
図２に示す評価結果によれば、個人間で細菌数（微生物類数）の違いに差は認められるものの、３日間での細菌類の採取量に大きな変化は見られなかった。このことは、本発明の微生物採取装置及び微生物採取方法によれば、これまで困難であった舌上での微生物類を定量的かつ容易に採取することが可能になることを示すものである。
【００２６】
〔従来法との比較〕
男性ボランティア６名に、上記実施例１の微生物採取装置を用いた採取方法、及び従来法である擦過法による採取方法によって、舌中部から細菌類（微生物類）を採取してもらい、採取された細菌数のバラツキの比較を行った。
【００２７】
上記実施例１の微生物採取装置を用いた採取方法では、上述と同様に、採取面を３秒間押し当てて舌の表面に付着した微生物類を採取した後、ヘッド部を３ｍＬのＰＢＳに入れて分散溶液から希釈液を調整した後、好気性細菌検査用培地に規定量播種し、好気条件下、３７℃で２日間培養すると共に、生育された集落の数をカウントした。一方、従来法である擦過法では、舌中部に直径１２ｍｍの円形のウインドウ部を設けたプラスチック板をのせ、ウインドウ部を減菌綿棒にて前後に１０回擦過し、舌の表面に付着した微生物類を採取した。直ちに綿棒を３ｍＬのＰＢＳに入れて１０秒程度撹拌し、得られた分散溶液から希釈液を調整した後、希釈液を好気性細菌検査用培地に規定量播種し、好気条件下、３７℃で２日間培養すると共に、生育された集落の数をカウントした。各方法について、６名の男性ボランティアによるカウント数の平均値及び標準偏差を求める。得られた結果を表１に比較して示す。
【００２８】
【表１】

【００２９】
表１に示す結果から、実施例１の微生物採取装置を用いた採取方法によれば、従来の擦過法による採取方法と比較して、細菌類を約１００倍量採取することができ、また採取数のバラツキも小さいことが判明する。このことは、本発明の微生物採取装置及び微生物採取方法によれば、従来の採取方法と比較して採取部位から微生物類を定量的かつ容易に採取でき、また微生物類の生息状況を精度良く知り得ることを示すものである。
【００３０】
【発明の効果】
本発明の微生物採取装置及び微生物採取方法によれば、採取部位から微生物類を定量的かつ容易に採取することを可能にして、微生物類の生息状況を精度良く把握させることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態に係る微生物採取装置を示す斜視図、及び要部拡大斜視図である。
【図２】実施例１の微生物採取装置による微生物類の採取精度の評価結果を示すチャートである。
【符号の説明】
１０微生物採取装置
１１採取面
１２微生物採取部
１３定量運動発生部
１４ハンドル部
１５首部
１６頭部
１７装置本体[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a microorganism collection apparatus and a microorganism collection method, and more particularly to a microorganism collection apparatus and a microorganism collection method for collecting microorganisms quantitatively from a surface to be collected on which microorganisms adhere.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, the surface of living tissue such as skin, teeth, pharynx and tongue, the surface of tissues such as animals and plants, or the surface of living things such as dentures, diapers and clothes, and the water around kitchens, baths, water pipes, toilets and toilet seats There are concerns about the presence of microorganisms in living surfaces such as the surface of facilities, surfaces such as desks, floors, walls, and filter surfaces, surfaces of electrical equipment such as washing machines and refrigerators, and other factories and facilities Various microorganisms including bacteria etc. usually live on the surface. By appropriately grasping the living conditions of such microorganisms and taking various countermeasures, infection by pathogenic microorganisms is possible. It is possible to prevent sanitation and improve hygiene and environment in daily life.
[0003]
In order to grasp the inhabiting situation of such microorganisms, a method of directly collecting microorganisms from a living tissue or a watering facility where microorganisms inhabit as described above is generally adopted. As a method of collecting microorganisms, a rubbing method that is a method of collecting microorganisms by rubbing an examination site with a cotton swab or the like, or a stamp method that is a method of collecting microorganisms by stamping a medium of a certain area on the examination site Alternatively, a cup method, which is a method of attaching a fixed area cup to a collection site, adding a solvent such as water and stirring to collect microorganisms, is known.
[0004]
On the other hand, it is necessary to collect microorganisms quantitatively from the examination site in order to compare the habitats of microorganisms and to take more effective countermeasures. The degree of collection is likely to vary depending on the collection site of the species, and it is difficult to accurately grasp the habitation status of microorganisms.
[0005]
That is, according to the rubbing method, since it is a method of rubbing the collection site with a cotton swab etc., it is difficult to standardize the collection area as a constant, and it is also possible to keep the stress at the time of rubbing constant Since it is difficult, it is difficult to collect microorganisms quantitatively. In addition, according to the stamp method and the cup method, it is difficult to collect microorganisms firmly attached to the collection site, and it is possible to collect microorganisms from a site where the shape such as the uneven shape is not constant or a limited narrow site. Have difficulty.
[0006]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a microorganism collection apparatus and a microorganism collection method that enable a microorganism to be collected quantitatively and easily from a collection site and can accurately grasp the habitat of microorganisms. To do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes a microorganism collecting unit having a collecting surface for collecting microorganisms by pressing against a surface to be collected to which microorganisms adhere, and a quantification that causes a quantitative movement on the collecting surface pressed against the surface to be collected. The above-described object is achieved by providing a microorganism collection device having a motion generation unit.
[0008]
The present invention also provides a microorganism for collecting microorganisms while pressing a microorganism collecting part having a sampling surface of a predetermined area against a surface to be collected to which microorganisms adhere and causing a quantitative movement on the pressed collecting surface. By providing a collection method, the above object has been achieved.
[0009]
In the above description, the collection surface of the microorganism collection part that is pressed against the surface to be collected of microorganisms and attaches microorganisms is formed from a material that is a combination of one or more of synthetic materials, natural materials, and metal materials, for example. be able to. Here, as a synthetic material, paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, board, brush, etc. made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, PET, rayon, acrylic, vinyl, etc. can be used. As natural materials, cotton, silk, Paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, board, brush, etc. made of wood, agar, etc. can be used. Further, as the metal material, a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a plate, a brush or the like made of iron, aluminum or the like can be used. Further, these materials may be foamed or adjusted to have an appropriate strength using a gelling agent such as agar.
[0010]
In addition, as the quantitative motion generated on the sampling surface pressed against the surface to be sampled, for example, continuous rotation in the rotation direction, repetition, or vibration motion, repetition in vertical direction, vibration motion, or repetition in vertical and horizontal directions, or A motion accompanied by one or two or more types of vibration motions can be employed. These motions can be easily generated as a quantitative motion on the sampling surface by setting the rotation speed, amplitude, vibration period, etc. in advance according to the properties of the surface to be sampled.
[0011]
And according to the present invention, for example, the surface of living tissue such as skin, teeth, pharynx and tongue, and hard surfaces such as tiles and joints in watering facilities such as kitchens, baths and drain pipes, as well as microorganisms as described above Predetermined shape and area of a microorganism collection part having a predetermined area according to the properties of various surfaces to be collected to which the sample is attached are pressed against the surface to be collected, and the predetermined shape is pressed It is possible to collect microorganisms quantitatively from the area of the area, and cause a quantitative movement on the sampling surface, and for example, a simple operation of holding this state for a few seconds to a few minutes, for example, The attached micro-organisms can be peeled off from the surface to be collected. This makes it possible to collect microorganisms quantitatively and easily from a collection site having a predetermined shape and area, and to accurately grasp the inhabiting state of microorganisms on the surface to be collected.
[0012]
In addition, by setting the sampling surface of the microorganism sampling portion to a concave / convex shape that is a shape along a sampled surface where the shape is not constant or a shape along a limited narrow sampled surface, for example, irregularities due to a tooth surface that is provided continuously It is possible to collect microorganisms quantitatively and easily even on a surface to be collected such as limited narrow gaps such as shape and teeth, and quantitatively and easily collect microorganisms from a narrow part of a recess. It can be easily collected.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A microorganism collecting apparatus 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 quantitatively collects microorganisms, for example, from the surface of the tongue in the oral cavity, which is the surface of a living tissue, as the surface to be collected. It is used to do.
[0014]
And the microorganisms collection apparatus 10 of this embodiment pressed against the surface of the tongue which is a surface to be collected of microorganisms, and the microorganism collection unit 12 including the collection surface 11 for collecting microorganisms, and pressed against the surface of the tongue. It is comprised by the quantitative movement generation | occurrence | production part 13 which produces a quantitative movement on the collection surface 11. FIG.
[0015]
Further, according to the present embodiment, the microorganism collection device 10 has a configuration similar to a so-called electric toothbrush, and a sample is collected on the head 16 of the device body 17 including the handle portion 14, the neck portion 15, and the head portion 16. Microorganism collection part 12 is attached in the state where surface 11 was arranged facing the side.
[0016]
The microorganism collection unit 12 of the microorganism collection apparatus 10 has a disk or circular drum shape having a diameter of about 1 to 50 mm and a thickness of about 0.1 to 30 mm, for example. Moreover, according to this embodiment, the collection surface 11 has an area of, for example, about 0.008 to ²⁰ cm ² suitable for collecting microorganisms from the surface of the tongue.
[0017]
The quantitative movement generating unit 13 of the microorganism collecting apparatus 10 includes a vibrator or the like housed in the head 16 of the apparatus body 17. For example, the neck 15 receives a driving force from an electric motor housed in the handle part 14 of the apparatus body 17. By transmitting to the vibrator via the transmission mechanism accommodated in the container and rotating this vibrator, it becomes possible to cause the microorganism collecting section 12 and the sampling surface 11 to produce a quantitative movement due to the rotational vibration. ing. In addition, according to this embodiment, it adjusts so that a vibrator | oscillator may reverse-rotate at the rotation speed of about 1 to 360 degree angle | corners and about 6 to 6000 rpm so that it may be suitable for collection | recovery of microorganisms from the surface of a tongue. .
[0018]
And in order to collect the microorganisms adhering to the surface of the tongue using the microorganism collecting apparatus 10 of this embodiment, for example, after containing 10 mL of distilled water in the mouth and rinsing for about 10 seconds, the microorganism collecting unit 12 The sampling surface 11 is pressed against a predetermined location on the surface of the tongue, and this state is maintained for about 0.5 to 60 seconds, for example, by driving the electric motor and generating quantitative rotational vibration on the pressed sampling surface 11. . By such an operation, the collection site of the microorganisms is divided by the area where the collection surface 11 is pressed, and is easily standardized to a predetermined area, and is firmly attached by the quantitative movement of the collection surface 11. Fine microorganisms can also be easily detached from the surface of the tongue, which makes it possible to collect microorganisms quantitatively and easily from a standardized collection site of the same area.
[0019]
When the microorganisms attached to the surface of the tongue are collected by pressing the collection surface 11 for a predetermined time, the collection surface 11 is separated from the surface of the tongue, and the microorganism collection unit 12 is detached from the microorganism collection device 10 to collect a new microorganism. By remounting the part 12, it becomes possible to collect microorganisms from other sampling sites on the surface of the tongue.
[0020]
And according to the microorganisms collection apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the inhabiting condition of microorganisms can be grasped | ascertained accurately. That is, the collection surface 11 of the microorganism collection unit 12 that collects microorganisms from various collection sites on the surface of the tongue as described above is placed in, for example, about 3 mL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for about 10 seconds. By stirring, the collected microorganisms can be easily separated from the collection surface 11 and can be easily adjusted as a dispersion solution of microorganisms. In addition, after repeating the work of diluting the microbial dispersion several times, the obtained microbial dilution is inoculated on the medium and cultured at about 37 ° C. for about 1 to 2 days. By counting the number, it becomes possible to know the number of microorganisms. According to the present embodiment, microorganisms are collected quantitatively and easily on the sampling surface 11 from the sampling region of the same area that is pressed against the sampling surface 12 without any variation in the sampling method. Therefore, by counting the number and types of villages formed in the cultured medium, it is possible to accurately grasp the habitation status of microorganisms at the collection site.
[0021]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the microorganism collection apparatus and the microorganism collection method of the present invention are not limited to the surface of the tongue, but other biological tissue surfaces such as skin, teeth, and pharynx, tissue surfaces such as animals and plants, or dentures, diapers, clothing, etc. In addition to the surface of living body attachments, the surface of water facilities such as kitchens, baths, water pipes, toilets, and toilet seats, surfaces of desks, floors, walls, filter surfaces, etc., electrical equipment such as washing machines, refrigerators, etc. Microorganisms can also be collected using a hard surface in a living environment such as a surface or a surface where the presence of microorganisms in other factories or facilities is a concern as the surface to be collected. In addition, the collection surface of the microorganism collection part can be set to a shape along the surface to be collected, such as a concavity and convexity due to the tooth surface to be provided continuously and a limited narrow gap such as a gap between the teeth. It is possible to collect microorganisms quantitatively and easily even on a surface to be collected having a gap or the like, and it is also possible to easily collect microorganisms from a narrow portion of a recess. Furthermore, the collection surface of the microorganism collection part can be formed using synthetic materials, natural materials, metal materials, etc., and the quantitative movement of the collection surface can be performed in the vertical direction or in addition to the rotation direction. It may be a repetitive motion or a vibration motion in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the rotational angle and rotational speed of the vibrator are not limited to the above embodiment. Furthermore, it is not always necessary to have a configuration similar to an electric toothbrush.
[0022]
【Example】
EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although Example 1 demonstrates this invention further in detail, this invention is not limited to this.
[0023]
[Evaluation of Example 1 and collection accuracy]
The microorganism collection apparatus having the same configuration as the microorganism collection apparatus 10 of the above embodiment was used as the microorganism collection apparatus of Example 1, and the collection accuracy was evaluated. A microorganism collecting part (head part) 12 having a diameter of 12 mm was used, and a non-woven fabric made of polyethylene having a diameter of 12 mm and a thickness of 1 mm was attached to the tip of the head part to obtain a collecting surface 11. In addition, the quantitative motion of the quantitative motion generator is a motion that causes the vibrator to invert at 72 degrees and 3000 rpm.
[0024]
The evaluation of the collection accuracy was carried out by having three male volunteers actually use the microorganism collection apparatus of Example 1. That is, a portion 4 cm along the midline from the tip of the tongue toward the root of the tongue (hereinafter referred to as “tongue middle portion”) was used as a collection portion, and the collection surface was pressed for 3 seconds to adhere to the surface of the tongue. Microorganisms were collected. Immediately, the head was placed in 3 mL of PBS and stirred for about 10 seconds to prepare a microorganism dispersion. The dispersion is adjusted by arbitrarily diluting these dispersions with PBS, and then seeded in a prescribed amount on an aerobic bacterial test medium (SCD agar medium; BBL) and cultured at 37 ° C. for 2 days under aerobic conditions. After that, the number of grown communities was counted. The same operation was continuously performed for 3 days at the same time, and the variation and reproducibility were examined. The evaluation results are shown in FIG.
[0025]
According to the evaluation results shown in FIG. 2, there was a difference in the number of bacteria (number of microorganisms) among individuals, but no significant change was observed in the amount of bacteria collected in 3 days. This indicates that according to the microorganism collection apparatus and the microorganism collection method of the present invention, microorganisms on the tongue, which has been difficult until now, can be collected quantitatively and easily.
[0026]
[Comparison with conventional methods]
Six male volunteers were asked to collect bacteria (microorganisms) from the middle part of the tongue by the collection method using the microorganism collection apparatus of Example 1 and the conventional collection method using the scraping method. Comparison of bacterial count variation was performed.
[0027]
In the collection method using the microorganism collection apparatus of Example 1, the microorganisms attached to the surface of the tongue were collected by pressing the collection surface for 3 seconds in the same manner as described above, and then the head portion was placed in 3 mL of PBS. After adjusting the diluted solution from the dispersion solution, a prescribed amount was inoculated on a medium for testing aerobic bacteria, cultured at 37 ° C. for 2 days under aerobic conditions, and the number of grown colonies was counted. On the other hand, in the conventional rubbing method, a plastic plate provided with a circular window portion having a diameter of 12 mm is placed in the middle of the tongue, and the window portion is scraped back and forth ten times with a sterilized cotton swab to adhere to the tongue surface. Species were collected. Immediately after putting a cotton swab in 3 mL of PBS and stirring for about 10 seconds, adjusting the diluted solution from the obtained dispersion solution, seeding the diluted solution in a culture medium for aerobic bacteria test, 37 ° C. under aerobic condition. And the number of grown colonies was counted. For each method, the average value and standard deviation of the counts by 6 male volunteers are determined. The obtained results are shown in comparison with Table 1.
[0028]
[Table 1]

[0029]
From the results shown in Table 1, according to the collection method using the microorganism collection apparatus of Example 1, about 100 times the amount of bacteria can be collected as compared with the conventional collection method by the scraping method. It turns out that the number variation is small. This is because, according to the microorganism collection apparatus and the microorganism collection method of the present invention, it is possible to collect microorganisms quantitatively and easily from the collection site as compared with the conventional collection method, and to know the habitat state of microorganisms with high accuracy. It shows that you get.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the microorganism collection apparatus and the microorganism collection method of the present invention, microorganisms can be collected quantitatively and easily from a collection site, and the inhabiting state of microorganisms can be accurately grasped.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for collecting microorganisms according to an embodiment of the present invention, and an enlarged perspective view of main parts.
2 is a chart showing evaluation results of the collection accuracy of microorganisms by the microorganism collection apparatus of Example 1. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Microorganism collection device 11 Collection surface 12 Microorganism collection part 13 Quantitative movement generation part 14 Handle part 15 Neck part 16 Head part 17 Main part of apparatus

Claims

A method of collecting microorganisms for collecting microorganisms from a surface to be collected to which microorganisms adhere,
A microorganism collecting part having a shape and an area set in advance according to the property of the surface to be collected, which is pressed against the surface to be collected attached to the surface to be collected, and the sampling pressed against the surface to be collected The surface to be sampled with one or more movements of continuous, repetitive or oscillating motion, up and down or oscillating motion, or longitudinal and transverse motion or oscillating motion on the surface. Using a microorganism collection device having a quantitative movement generation unit that generates a preset movement according to the
The collection surface of the microorganism collection unit is pressed against the collection surface to which the microorganisms are attached, and the preset movement is caused to occur on the collected collection surface that is pressed, according to the property of the collection surface. A microorganism collection method for collecting microorganisms on the collection surface by holding the pressed state for a long time.

The method for collecting microorganisms according to claim 1, wherein the time for pressing the collection surface of the microorganism collection unit against the surface to be collected is several seconds to several minutes.

The method for collecting microorganisms according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface to be collected to which the microorganisms for collecting the microorganisms are attached is a site in the oral cavity.

The microorganism collection method according to claim 3, wherein the microorganism collection unit is washed with distilled water in the mouth prior to pressing the collection surface of the microorganism collection unit against the surface to be collected.

5. The dispersion of microorganisms is obtained by separating the collected microorganisms from the collection surface by stirring the collection surface from which the microorganisms have been collected in phosphate buffered saline. A method for collecting microorganisms according to claim 1.