title: Bacterial interactions in pathogenic subgingival plaque.
abstract: Chronic periodontitis has a polymicrobial biofilm aetiology. Polymicrobial biofilms are complex, dynamic microbial communities formed by two or more bacterial species that are important for the persistence and proliferation of participating microbes in the environment. Interspecies adherence, which often involves bacterial surface-associated molecules, and communications are essential in the spatial and temporal development of a polymicrobial biofilm, which in turn is necessary for the overall fitness of a well-organized multispecies biofilm community. In the oral cavity, interactions between key oral bacterial species, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia, are essential for the progression of chronic periodontitis. In vivo, P. gingivalis and T. denticola are frequently found to co-exist in deep periodontal pockets and have been co-localized to the superficial layers of subgingival plaque as microcolony blooms adjacent to the pocket epithelium, suggesting possible interbacterial interactions that contribute towards disease. The motility and chemotactic ability of T. denticola, although not considered as classic virulence factors, are likely to be important in the synergistic biofilm formation with P. gingivalis. In vitro, P. gingivalis and T. denticola display a symbiotic relationship in nutrient utilization and growth promotion. Together these data suggest there is an intimate relationship between these two species that has evolved to enhance their survival and virulence.
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Hong Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Lin Xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Kin
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Stuart G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Dashper
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Slakeski
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: e.reynolds@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D000070436:Tannerella forsythia / Q000254:growth & development*; D048373:Treponema denticola / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial
keywords: Chemotaxis; Metabolic synergism; Motility; Polymicrobial biofilm; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Treponema denticola