Subgingival Biofilm Structure

Abstract

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the oral cavity initiated by a microbial biofilm (or 'dental plaque'). Subgingival biofilms in periodontal pockets are not easily analyzed without the loss of structural integrity. These subgingival plaques are structured communities of microorganisms with great phylogenetic diversity embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix. For almost three decades, knowledge of the structure of plaque located below the gingival margin has been limited to landmark studies from the 1970s that were unaware of the breadth of microbial diversity we appreciate now. Only recently has technical progress -combining histology, confocal scanning fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization to localize the most abundant species from different phyla and species associated with periodontitis -provided new insights into the architecture of subgingival biofilms. This review focuses on the structure and composition of subgingival biofilms and discusses current knowledge on the nature of the extracellular matrix. We describe further structural aspects of 'subgingival' biofilms produced in vitro that are gaining considerable interest as we search for models to investigate biofilm development, resistance to antibiotics, extracellular polymeric matrix composition and function, and reciprocal host-cell-to-biofilm interactions. AbstractPeriodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the oral cavity initiated by a microbial biofilm (or 'dental plaque'). Subgingival biofilms in periodontal pockets are not easily analyzed without the loss of structural integrity. These subgingival plaques are structured communities of microorganisms with great phylogenetic diversity embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix. For almost three decades, knowledge of the structure of plaque located below the gingival margin has been limited to landmark studies from the 1970s that were unaware of the breadth of microbial diversity we appreciate now. Only recently has technical progress -combining histology, confocal scanning fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization to localize the most abundant species from different phyla and species associated with periodontitis -provided new insights into the architecture of subgingival biofilms. This review focuses on the structure and composition of subgingival biofilms and discusses current knowledge on the nature of the extracellular matrix. We describe further structural aspects of 'subgingival' biofilms produced in vitro that are gaining considerable interest as we search for models to investigate biofilm development, resistance to antibiotics, extracellular polymeric matrix composition and function, and reciprocal host-cell-to-biofilm interactions.

The Biofilm Community: Rebels with a Cause

“…However, understanding its community function is yet to be explored in detail, and clinical studies and evaluation of the ecological determinants of gingival biofilm maturation are still needed to address this issue. Functional characteristics of gingival biofilm communities are governed by the metabolic processes that support such microbial communities [16]. Thus, identifying keystone species, along with their microbial interactions and signaling, play a significant role in understanding the relationship between microbial communities and the host [17,18].…”

Clinical and antimicrobial efficacy of a controlled-release device containing chlorhexidine in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

“…Although more than 500 bacterial species have been detected in periodontal plaque [10], those like Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Tannerella forsythia (T. forsythia) have been implicated as major pathogens of chronic periodontitis, the most prevailing form of periodontal disease [11]. Their elimination is a reflection of periodontal health.…”

Inflammatory Bone Loss in Experimental Periodontitis Induced by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Knockout Mice

“…ubgingival biofilm plays a major role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease by stimulating immune responses that can lead to periodontal tissue damage (1,2). In addition to genetic and acquired risk factors that can modify host responses, susceptibility to periodontal disease, as well as its severity and progression, is influenced by environmental factors (3)(4)(5).…”