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Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Signaling01:30

Bacterial Signaling

Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...

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Related Experiment Video

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Oral Biofilm Analysis of Palatal Expanders by Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy
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Published on: October 20, 2011

Intergeneric communication in dental plaque biofilms.

H Xie1, G S Cook, J W Costerton

  • 1School of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee 37208, USA. hxie@mail.mmc.edu

Journal of Bacteriology
|November 28, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Streptococcus cristatus can control the virulence of Porphyromonas gingivalis by repressing its fimbrial gene. This interaction impacts the development of harmful dental plaque biofilms.

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Last Updated: Jul 20, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Oral Health
  • Bacterial Interactions

Background:

  • Dental plaque forms through sequential microbial colonization, progressing from Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria.
  • Understanding inter-species communication within plaque is crucial for addressing pathogenic biofilm development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the communication pathways between Streptococcus cristatus and Porphyromonas gingivalis.
  • To determine how S. cristatus influences the gene expression and biofilm formation of P. gingivalis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a fimA promoter-lacZ reporter construct to assess gene regulation.
  • Employed reverse transcription-PCR to quantify gene expression changes.
  • Observed biofilm formation and microcolony development between the two bacterial species.

Main Results:

  • A specific 59-kDa surface protein of S. cristatus was identified as the signaling molecule.
  • This protein repressed the expression of the P. gingivalis fimbrial gene (fimA).
  • P. gingivalis failed to form microcolonies with S. cristatus in biofilm assays.

Conclusions:

  • S. cristatus actively modulates virulence gene expression in P. gingivalis.
  • This modulation influences the pathogenic potential and structural development of dental plaque.
  • Inter-bacterial signaling plays a significant role in shaping oral biofilm communities.