Adherence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans on oral epithelial cells

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is capable of colonizing mucosa and dental plaque and plays an important role in periodontal disease in young peoples and adult. Adherence mechanisms on epithelial cells, tooth or oral bacteria and gingival invasion probably are the initial steps in the pathogenesis of gingivitis or periodontitis. In this study, the adherence of A. actinomycetemcomitans on oral epithelial cells following subculturing were examined. The adherence on oral epithelial cells showed high in all the isolates values but with differences among them and at each time of subculturing. The adherence of A. actinomycetemcomitans FDC Y4 was stable in each of the subcultures. However, adhesion values of all the tested isolates were different except for strains #1, #38 and Y4, suggesting a heterogenicity within this microbial group. Morphologic variations were observed in extracellular structures of the A. actinomycetemcomitans tested. The adhesion process on oral epithelial cells of this organism can be influenced by subcultures, but additional studies are necessary to verify the influence of subculturing on adherence or other virulence factors.