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Oral multispecies biofilm development and the key role of cell-cell distance

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Nicholas JakubovicsORCiD

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Abstract

Growth of oral bacteria in situ requires adhesion to a surface because the constant flow of host secretions thwarts the ability of planktonic cells to grow before they are swallowed. Therefore, oral bacteria evolved to form biofilms on hard tooth surfaces and on soft epithelial tissues, which often contain multiple bacterial species. Because these biofilms are easy to study, they have become the paradigm of multispecies biofilms. In this Review we describe the factors involved in the formation of these biofilms, including the initial adherence to the oral tissues and teeth, cooperation between bacterial species in the biofilm, signalling between the bacteria and its role in pathogenesis, and the transfer of DNA between bacteria. In all these aspects distance between cells of different species is integral for oral biofilm growth.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Kolenbrander PE, Palmer RJ, Periasamy S, Jakubovics NS

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nature Reviews Microbiology

Year: 2010

Volume: 8

Issue: 7

Pages: 471-480

Print publication date: 01/06/2010

ISSN (print): 1740-1526

ISSN (electronic): 1740-1534

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2381

DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro2381

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