L4: The microbial flora of dental plaque Flashcards
what is colonization resistance?
when normal flora acts to exclude pathogens and protect the host
on what sites of the body can microbial colonosation take place?
hard & non-shedding surfaces
tongue crypts have a ____ redox potential
low
what do the low redox potential of tongue crypts mean for gram -ve anaerobes?
acts as a reservoir for gram -ve anaerobes = periodontal disease
____ and ___ _____ of saliva at different oral sites may influence caries susceptibility
flow and ion content
what is the role of glycoproteins in saliva?
- influeneces aggregation and adhesion of bacteria to oral surfaces
- interacts with other salivary components and immune defences
- acts as a primary source of nutrients for normal microflofora
what is the role of urea and free amino acids in saliva?
they are metabolised to lead to an increased pH (counteracts acid production after carb intake)
what is GCF and what does it do?
gingival crevicular fluid; regulates the microflora of the gingival crevice during health and disease
what are the non-specific factors of saliva?
- physical removal by flow of saliva & GCF
- swallowing
- LYSOZYME in saliva hydrolyses peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls
- LACTOFERRIN - high affinity iron - binding glycoprotein
- SIALOPEROXIDASE - salivary peroxidase enzyme system generates inhibitors of bacterial glycolysis
- antimicrobial peptides (i.e. histatins - histadine rich peptides) that regulate microorgansm levels
what are the specific factors in saliva
- intra-epithelial lymphocytes, langerhan cells & IgA found within the mucosa - acts as a barrier to penetratng antigens
- secretory IgA - agglutinates bacteria, modulates enzyme activity & inhibits adherence of bacteria to buccal epithelium and enamel.
- CGF conatins IgG, IgM, IgA, complement and neutrophils
- specific Ab production stimulated by bacterial antigens at the gingival margin or on oral mucosa
stroptococcus is gram ___
+ve
extracellular polysaccharides are associated with
plaque formation
what are the 2 strains present in the streptococcus mutans group?
S.mutans
S.sobrinus
what 2 isolates are present in the aetiology of enamel caries in children and young adults?
dental caries
what are the two main strains of the Streptococcus salivarius group?
• S. salivarius – common isolate from most areas
esp. mucosal surfaces.
• S. vestibularis – isolated mainly from vestibular
mucosa of mouth.
where is s. vestibularis found?
mainly at the vestibular mucosa of the mouth
what are the 3 main strains of the streptococcus milleri group?
S.constellatus, S.intermedius & S.anginosus