title: Low-dose irradiation affects the functional behavior of oral microbiota in the context of mucositis.
abstract: The role of host-microbe interactions in the pathobiology of oral mucositis is still unclear; therefore, this study aimed to unravel the effect of irradiation on behavioral characteristics of oral microbial species in the context of mucositis. Using various experimental in vitro setups, the effects of irradiation on growth and biofilm formation of two Candida spp., Streptococcus salivarius and Klebsiella oxytoca in different culture conditions were evaluated. Irradiation did not affect growth of planktonic cells, but reduced the number of K. oxytoca cells in newly formed biofilms cultured in static conditions. Biofilm formation of K. oxytoca and Candida glabrata was affected by irradiation and depended on the culturing conditions. In the presence of mucins, these effects were lost, indicating the protective nature of mucins. Furthermore, the Galleria melonella model was used to study effects on microbial virulence. Irradiated K. oxytoca microbes were more virulent in G. melonella larvae compared to the nonirradiated ones. Our data indicate that low-dose irradiation can have an impact on functional characteristics of microbial species. Screening for pathogens like K. oxytoca in the context of mucosits could be useful to allow early detection and immediate intervention.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium barbara.vanhoecke@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Barbara W A
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Vanhoecke
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tine R G
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: De Ryck
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De boel
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Siouxsie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiles
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boterberg
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Department of Biochemical and Microbial Technology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van de Wiele
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swift
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002175:Candida / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D041121:Klebsiella oxytoca / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000382:microbiology; D064307:Microbiota / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D052016:Mucositis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014774:Virulence / Q000528:radiation effects
keywords: Galleria melonella; Irradiation; biofilm; mucositis; oral microbiota; virulence