Abstract
The fungus Candida albicans is carried orally and causes a range of superficial infections that may become systemic. Oral bacteria Actinomyces oris and Streptococcus oralis are abundant in early dental plaque and on oral mucosa. The aims of this study were to determine the mechanisms by which S. oralis and A. oris interact with each other and with C. albicans
in biofilm development. Spatial distribution of microorganisms was
visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy of biofilms labeled by
differential fluorescence or by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Actinomyces oris and S. oralis formed robust dual-species biofilms, or three-species biofilms with C. albicans. The bacterial components tended to dominate the lower levels of the biofilms while C. albicans occupied the upper levels. Non-fimbriated A. oris
was compromised in biofilm formation in the absence or presence of
streptococci, but was incorporated into upper biofilm layers through
binding to C. albicans. Biofilm growth and hyphal filament production by C. albicans was enhanced by S. oralis.
It is suggested that the interkingdom biofilms are metabolically
coordinated to house all three components, and this study demonstrates
that adhesive interactions between them determine spatial distribution
and biofilm architecture. The physical and chemical communication
processes occurring in these communities potentially augment C. albicans persistence at multiple oral cavity sites.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 60-73 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Molecular Oral Microbiology |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 12 Mar 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2017 |
Keywords
- human oral cavity
- polymicrobial communities
- colonization
- FISH
- coaggregation