Environmental Conditions affecting the Oral Environment Flashcards
process by which bacteria re-produce
binary FISSION- divide into 2 daughter cellsp
process by which yeasts re-produce
binary FUSION/ budding
how can cell GROWTH be measured
- cell no. 2. cell mass (dry weight) 3. cellular constituents (ATP, endotoxin)
how can cell POPULATIONS be measured
total cell count OR viable counts (cfu, serial dilution)
disadvantage of total cell count
doesn’t differentiate between living and dead cells
phases of the bacterial growth curve
lag phase log/exponential stationary death/decline

list all the environmental factors in the mouth that affect bacterial growth
- host defences 2. availability of nutrients 3. temperature 4. o2/ redox potential 5. pH 6. antimicrobial compounds
how does inflammation effect the temperature
increases T from 35- 39 … alters gene expression…changes the bacteria community found at site
categorise the bacteria depending on their optimum temperatures
psycrophile= 20 °C mesophile= 40 °C thermophile= 70 °C

obligate anaerobe
ØHighly sensitive to oxygen
ØGenerate energy without recourse to molecular oxygen
ØRequire sites with low redox potential
facultative anaerobe
prefers o2 but can grow without
micro-aerophile
sub-atomic o2 concentrations
aero-tolerant anaerobe
prefers no oxygen but can tolerate o2 at low levels
obligate aerobe
only in 02
list examples of reactive oxygen species
Molecular oxygen
Singlet oxygen
Peroxide anion
Superoxide anion
Hydroxyl free radical
what is the redox potential
the tendency of a solution to take up OR give electrons
what is the role of de-toxifying enzymes
they convert ROS into o2/ h20
give example of 3 de-oxifying enzymes used by bacteria for their growth
superoxide dismutase
catalase
peroxidase

what is the redox potential of a fresh bacteriological medium
+100 to +200 mV
what is the redox potential of anaerobic growth
less than -100mV
during plaque development there is a change in the bacterial population to anaerobic bacteria which decreases the redox potential of the GINGIVA from ___ to ___
from +73 mV to -48 mV gingivitis= -48 mV
what is meant by aciduric
organisms which can SURVIVE AND GROW at low pH
what is meant by homo-fermentation
when carbohydrate is in excess and LACTATE is formed
what is meant by hetero-fermentation
when carbohydrate is limited and ACETATE, FORMATE, ETHANOL is made