Filifactor alocis - involvement in periodontal biofilms

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Creators:
Schlafer, SebastianRiep, Birgit
Griffen, Ann
Petrich, Annett
Hubner, Julia
Berning, Moritz
Friedmann, Anton
Gobel, Ulf
Moter, Annette
Issue Date:
2010-03-01Metadata
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Schlafer, Sebastian, Riep, Birgit, Griffen, Ann, Petrich, Annett, Hubner, Julia, Berning, Moritz, Friedmann, Anton, Gobel, Ulf, Moter, Annette, "Filifactor alocis - involvement in periodontal biofilms," BMC Microbiology, v10, (March, 2010), pp. 66-Abstract:
Background. Bacteria in periodontal pockets develop complex sessile communities that attach
to the tooth surface. These highly dynamic microfloral environments challenge both clinicians
and researchers alike. The exploration of structural organisation and bacterial interactions within
these biofilms is critically important for a thorough understanding of periodontal disease. In
recent years, Filifactor alocis, a fastidious, Gram-positive, obligately anaerobic rod was
repeatedly identified in periodontal lesions using DNA-based methods. It has been suggested to
be a marker for periodontal deterioration. The present study investigated the epidemiology of F.
alocis in periodontal pockets and analysed the spatial arrangement and architectural role of the
organism in in vivo grown subgingival biofilms.
Results. A species-specific oligonucleotide probe, FIAL, was designed and evaluated. A total of
490 subgingival plaque samples were submitted to PCR and subsequent dot blot hybridization to
compare the prevalence of F. alocis in patients suffering from generalized aggressive
periodontitis (GAP), chronic periodontitis (CP), and control subjects resistant to periodontitis.
Moreover, a specially designed carrier system was used to collect in vivo grown subgingival
biofilms from GAP patients. Subsequent topographic analysis was performed using fluorescence
in situ hybridization.
While the majority of patients suffering from GAP or CP harboured F. alocis, it was rarely
detected in the control group. In the examined carrier-borne biofilms the organism predominantly
colonized apical parts of the pocket in close proximity to the soft tissues and was involved in
numerous structures that constitute characteristic architectural features of subgingival periodontal
biofilms.
Conclusions. F. alocis is likely to make a relevant contribution to the pathogenetic structure of
biofilms accounting for periodontal inflammation and can be considered an excellent marker
organism for periodontal disease.
Sponsors:
We thank Eva Kulik, University of Basel, and Eivind Strøm, University of Oslo, for providing clinical samples, Cindy Hefenbrock and Marie Knüver for excellent technical assistance, Derek Ramsey for proof reading, and Dr. Wolf-Ulrich Klotz for his support.
This work was supported by the Sonnenfeld-Stiftung, Berlin, Germany, and by a Rahel-Hirsch grant from Charité – Universitätsmedizin to AM.
Type:
ArticleISSN:
1471-2180Collections
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