title: Eradication ofEnterococcus faecalisBiofilms on Human Dentin.
abstract: Objectives:This work assesses different methods to interfere withEnterococcus faecalisbiofilms formed on human dentin slabs.Methods:First, methods are presented that select for small molecule inhibitors of biofilm targets using multi-well polystyrene biofilm plates. Next, we establish methodologies to study and interfere with biofilm formation on a medically relevant model, whereby biofilms are grown on human root dentin slabs.Results:Non-conventionalD-amino acid (D-Leucine) can efficiently disperse biofilms formed on dentin slabs without disturbing planktonic growth. Cation chelators interfere with biofilm formation on dentin slabs and polystyrene surfaces, and modestly impact planktonic growth. Strikingly, sodium hypochlorite, the treatment conventionally used to decontaminate infected root canal systems, was extremely toxic to planktonic bacteria, but did not eradicate biofilm cells. Instead, it induced a viable but non-culturable state in biofilm cells when grown on dentin slabs.Conclusion:Sodium hypochlorite may contribute to bacterial persistence. A combination of the methods described here can greatly contribute to the development of biofilm inhibitors and therapies to treatEnterococcus faecalisinfections formed in the root canal system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsesis
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elbahary
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Nimrod
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Storzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kolodkin-Gal
keywords: D-amino acids; biofilms; dentin; root canal therapy; viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state