title: Interspecies communication and periodontal disease.
abstract: More than 500 bacterial strains may be found in dental plaque. In the beginning, the emphasis was laid on the isolation of bacteria in pure culture to define their properties. However, now, it has been well established that in nature the bacteria exist as a member of polymicrobial community or consortium of interacting species. Interactions among human oral bacteria are integral to the development and maturation of the plaque. These interactions occur at several levels including physical contact, metabolic exchange, small-signal molecule-mediated communication, and exchange of genetic material. This high level of interspecies interaction benefits the microorganism by providing a broader habitat range, effective metabolism, increasing the resistance to host defence, and enhancing their virulence. This generally has a detrimental effect on the host and is attributed to many chronic infections which poses a therapeutic challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Himachal Pradesh Government Dental College and Hospital (H.P.G.D.C.), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001, India.
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: Himachal Pradesh Government Dental College and Hospital (H.P.G.D.C.), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001, India.
authors.forename: Baljeet
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Himachal Pradesh Government Dental College and Hospital (H.P.G.D.C.), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001, India.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kashyap
authors.affiliation: Himachal Pradesh Government Dental College and Hospital (H.P.G.D.C.), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Himachal Pradesh Government Dental College and Hospital (H.P.G.D.C.), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001, India.
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahajan
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems; D018441:Biofilms; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000382:microbiology; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D006801:Humans; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems