What is it about?
Dental plaque is a collection of microorganisms that are encased in a matrix of polymeric material. This paper identifies extracellular DNA is a key polymer in the matrix of dental plaque. Treatment with a DNase enzyme retarded plaque formation in vitro and selectively excluded certain microbial species from the biofilm.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
Dental plaque-related diseases are among the most common conditions of mankind. In fact, recent epidemiological studies have shown that dental caries (tooth decay) in adult teeth is the most prevalent condition of mankind worldwide and periodontal disease (gum disease) is the sixth most common. Therefore new approaches to control dental plaque are urgently needed. This paper identifies extracellular DNA is a potential target for biofilm control. DNase enzymes potentially could be used to combat the accumulation of dental plaque in the mouth and the development of plaque-related diseases.
Perspectives
This paper combines evidence from imaging methods and quantitative biofilm assays to highlight a key role for extracllular DNA in dental plaque. Whilst extracellular DNA is well-known to be important for many different single-species biofilms cultured in vitro, it has proved very difficult to show that it has a role in complex natural mixed-species biofilms such as dental plaque. This study is one of the first that identifies a role for extracellular DNA in stabilizing mixed-species biofilms.
Dr Nicholas S Jakubovics
Newcastle University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A Critical Role for Extracellular DNA in Dental Plaque Formation, Journal of Dental Research, October 2016, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0022034516675849.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
