Biofilm structure and cell vitality in a laboratory model of subgingival plaque

Hope, CK ORCID: 0000-0003-2986-0824 and Wilson, M (2006) Biofilm structure and cell vitality in a laboratory model of subgingival plaque. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS, 66 (3). pp. 390-398.

	Text Comparing EDS, Summon and Google Scholar.pdf - Unspecified Download (412kB)
	Text (licence) distribution and archiving rights - latest.docx - Unspecified Download (12kB)

Abstract

The accumulation of dental plaque below the gingival margin (i.e. subgingival plaque) is responsible for the most prevalent microbe-induced diseases of humans--the periodontal diseases. Access to this plaque is difficult, making studies of its structure in vivo very difficult. We have, therefore, used a constant-depth film fermenter to grow microcosm subgingival dental plaques under conditions similar to those existing in vivo to enable us to study certain aspects of its structure. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the biofilms consisted of pillar-like stacks of bacteria separated by water channels. In terms of their structure, these microcosm dental plaques reached a pseudo steady-state after 4 days. Individual optical sections generally showed the outer layers of the biofilm stacks to contain a high proportion of nonviable cells surrounding an inner core of predominantly viable cells with "veins" of nonviable bacteria penetrating from the outer layers through into the inner core. Such a structure differs from that classically described for biofilms growing in an aerobic atmosphere where the arrangement of viable and nonviable bacteria is usually reversed. The reasons for the preponderance of nonviable bacteria in the outer layer of the bacterial stacks remain to be established.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	0167-7012 (Print) Journal Article## TULIP Type: Articles/Papers (Journal) ##
Uncontrolled Keywords:	subgingival plaque, anaerobic biofilm, confocal laser scanning microscopy, viability, constant-depth film fermenter
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	19 May 2016 10:54
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2022 02:55
DOI:	10.1016/j.mimet.2006.01.003
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/72