title: In situ identification of streptococci and other bacteria in initial dental biofilm by confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization.
abstract: Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) has been employed as a method for studying intact natural biofilm. When combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) it is possible to analyze spatial relationships and changes of specific members of microbial populations over time. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic description of the pattern of initial dental biofilm formation by applying 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes to the identification of streptococci and other bacteria, and to evaluate the usefulness of the combination of CLSM and FISH for structural studies of bacterial populations in dental biofilm. Biofilms were collected on standardized glass slabs mounted in intra-oral appliances and worn by 10 individuals for 6, 12, 24 or 48 h. After intra-oral exposure the biofilms were labelled with probes against either streptococci (STR405) or all bacteria (EUB338) and analysed by CLSM. The current approach of using FISH techniques enabled differentiation of streptococci from other bacteria and determination of their spatio-temporal organization. The presence of chimney-like multilayered microcolonies with different microbial compositions demonstrated by this methodology provided information supplementary to our previous knowledge obtained by classical electron microscopic methods and increased our understanding of the structure of developing biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pathology, Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Aarhus, Arhus, Denmark. idige@odont.au.dk
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dige
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kilian
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nyvad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018441:Biofilms; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S