Interference with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: colonization of epithelial cells under hydrodynamic conditions.
BACKGROUND
Microbial interactions are considered to be important for bacterial colonization. Interactions that inhibit colonization of pathogens could possibly be used as a new treatment approach for periodontitis. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis on soft surfaces in vitro, taking into account the hydrodynamic forces continuously present in vivo.


METHODS
Cultured epithelial cells were precolonized with Streptococcus sanguinis KTH-4, Streptococcus cristatus CC5A, Streptococcus salivarius TOVE and Streptococcus mitis BMS before Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans colonization. Experiments were performed in a modified Robbins-device-type flow cell. Bacterial colonization and the number of epithelial cells were evaluated by microbial culturing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The streptococci were able to inhibit A. actinomycetemcomitans colonization on soft tissue surfaces under flow conditions. Statistically significant differences were found between streptococcal pretreatments and the controls, with the most pronounced effect caused by S. sanguinis.


CONCLUSIONS
These data confirm the possibility of applying beneficial bacteria in periodontal treatment.
Sliepen
I
I
Research Group for Microbial Adhesion, Department of Periodontology, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Van Essche
M
M
Loozen
G
G
Van Eldere
J
J
Quirynen
M
M
Teughels
W
W
D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000254:growth & development*; D000898:Antibiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D034361:Streptococcus mitis / Q000502:physiology
D003470:Culture Media