title: Atomic force microscopy of bacteria from periodontal subgingival biofilm: Preliminary study results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atomic force microscope (AFM) is a technology that allows analysis of the nanoscale morphology of bacteria within biofilm and provides details that may be better useful for understanding the role of bacterial interactions in the periodontal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients with periodontal ≥5 mm pockets diagnosed as generalized periodontitis and five patients with slight gingivitis were selected for the investigation. Bacteria biofilms were collected and morphologically investigated by AFM application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The investigation revealed how periodontitis bacteria are characterized by specific morphologic features of the cell wall. The major representative species of bacteria causing periodontal diseases have been reproduced by a three-dimensional reconstruction showing the bacteria surface details.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of complex glycocalyx structures, bacteriophage-like vesicles, spirochetes (classic and cystic morphology) and bacterial co-aggregation has been identified by the AFM analysis. The results suggest that AFM is a reliable technique for studying bacterial morphology and for examining microbial interactions in dental plaque.
authors.affiliation: Odontostomatology Department, University of Roma Torvergata School of Dentistry, RM, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Germano
authors.affiliation: Odontostomatology Department, University of Messina School of Dentistry, ME, Italy.
authors.forename: Ennio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.affiliation: Odontostomatology Department, University of Roma Torvergata School of Dentistry, RM, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.affiliation: Odontostomatology Department, University of Roma Torvergata School of Dentistry, RM, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cecchetti
authors.affiliation: Human Pathology Department, University of Messina School of Dentistry, ME, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cicciù
keywords: Atomic force microscopy; biofilm; microbiology; periodontitis