title: The in vivo dynamics of Streptococcus spp., Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Veillonella spp. in dental plaque biofilm as analysed by five-colour multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization.
abstract: The formation and composition of dental plaque biofilm in vivo are important factors which influence the development of gingivitis, caries and periodontitis. Studying dental plaque biofilm in in vitro models can cause an oversimplification of the real conditions in the oral cavity. In this study, bovine enamel slabs were fixed in an individual acrylic appliance in situ to quantify dental plaque formation and composition using multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Each of the five oligonucleotide probes used for FISH was specific for either eubacteria or one of four frequently isolated bacterial constituents belonging to early and late colonizers of tooth surfaces. The thickness of formed biofilm increased from 14.9+/-5.0 microm after 1 day to 49.3+/-11.6 microm after 7 days. Streptococcus spp. were predominant in 1-day-old dental plaque and decreased significantly after 7 days (P=0.0061). Compared to the first day, Fusobacterium nucleatum decreased after 2 days and increased significantly after 7 days (P=0.0006). The decreases of Actinomyces naeslundii content on day 2 and day 7 were significant (P=0.0028). Changes in Veillonella spp. were not significant during the study period (P >0.05). The results showed that an in vivo observation period of 7 days was required to detect significant changes in Streptococcus spp. and F. nucleatum. The multiplex FISH used is suitable for analysing the dynamics of four important bacterial constituents in the oral biofilm in epidemiological studies.
authors: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Al-Ahmad
authors: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Wunder
authors: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Thorsten Mathias
authors: TM
authors: Auschill
authors: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Core Facility, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Follo
authors: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Braun
authors: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Elmar
authors: E
authors: Hellwig
authors: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany.
authors: Nicole Birgit
authors: NB
authors: Arweiler
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000254:growth & development*; D000328:Adult; D018441:Biofilms; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000382:microbiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors; D014678:Veillonella / Q000254:growth & development*