Lecture 4 Flashcards
what are the studies done on plaque formation?
adhesive tape samples from the tooth’s surface
plaque grown on epoxy resin crowns worn for different time periods
in vitro studies of attachment and aggregation between different bacterial species
experimental gingivitis models
what is the definition of plaque biofilm?
organized cooperating community of organisms with specific inter bacterial and host bacterial interactions
what is the attachment stage of biofilm formation?
planktonic bacteria adhere to acquired pellicle
salivary glycoproteins and antibodies in pellicle
alteration in surface charge and free energy
bacteria vary in attachment ability( rapid attachers- specific attachment structures-fimbriae, extracellular polymers, glycocalyx + slow attachers- no specific mechanism)
bacterial characteristics change following attachment- synthesis of new outer membrane proteins, active cellular growth
what is the growth stage of biofilm formation?
coaggregation, coadhesion
what is coaggregation?
cell to cell recognition of genetically distinct cell types
mediated by protein or glycoprotein receptors on one cell and carbohydrates on the other
all cells are suspended
clumps form which then attach to pellicle
what is coadhesion?
interactions between suspended and already adhering micro organisms
influenced by temperature (no co adhesion > 37 degrees), lactose (increase lactose, decrease in co adhesion)
what is the maturation phase of biofilm formation?
increase in diversity
replication and matrix formation
ecological succession
what are tertiary colonizers?
gram -
porphyromonas gingivalis
what are the secondary colonizers?
bridge species- f. nucleatum (prolific coaggregator)- bind other bacteria
what are the primary colonizers?
gram + and some gram -
streptococci bind pellicle proteins from saliva
what happens when biofilm environment increase in thickness?
difficulty in diffusion in and out of the biofilm
an oxygen gradient develops
completely anaerobic conditions emerge in deeper layers
reverse gradients of fermentation products develop as a result of bacterial metabolism
what nutrition is in supragingival plaque?
dietary products dissolved in saliva
what nutrition is in subgingival plaque?
periodontal tissues and blood
bacterial hydrolytic enzymes breakdown host macromolecules into peptides and amino acids
what is the structure of the biofilm?
microcolonies (15-20% volume) + interbacterial matrix
presence of voids or water channels
exopolysaccharides- the back bone of the biofilm
what are the three sources of matrix?
dead bacterial cells
saliva
gingival exudate
what is the structure of the lower layer of the biofilm?
dense layer of microbes
polysaccharide matrix
tightly bound together
steep diffusion gradients
what is the structure of the loose layer of the biofilm?
irregular in appearance
extends into surrounding medium