Ex vivo gingival-biofilm consortia.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a protocol for harvesting ex vivo samples of gingival-biofilm consortia and to investigate their basic characteristics.


RESULTS
Gingival epithelial cells with attached biofilm were collected from healthy subjects by taking a smear. The bacterial viability was estimated via the alteration of the membrane permeability and metabolic activity via the double/single-stranded nucleic acid ratio using a confocal laser-scanning microscope. Morphological analysis was performed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, microbiological estimations were made. The electron microscopy revealed fimbriae-mediated adhesion and the formation of a biofilm matrix. Most bacteria were viable and had a high metabolic activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The presented study offers an easy to follow approach for harvesting samples of gingival-biofilm consortia. The latter differs considerably from the supragingival plaque in viability and zonal distribution. Related to free-living and in vitro-grown biofilms, the gingiva-associated biofilm revealed an atypically high metabolic activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Biofilm fragments should possess the basic features of the entire gingiva-associated biofilm; which as yet cannot be simulated in vitro. Thus, samples of ex vivo gingival-biofilm consortia can be used to investigate the resistance of oral biofilms against antibiotics and biocides.
Vitkov
L
L
Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany. lvitkov@yahoo.com
Hannig
M
M
Krautgartner
W D
WD
Herrmann
M
M
Fuchs
K
K
Klappacher
M
M
Hermann
A
A
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology*