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Evaluating biofilm growth of two oral pathogens
1Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Aims:
To determine the expediency of a microtitre assay system for establishing, quantifying and antimicrobial testing of two representative oral pathogens.
Methods And Results:
Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were used. Morphological characteristics of the attached population were evaluated. Biofilm growth was evaluated spectrophotometrically (undisturbed and 1 N NaOH dissipated biofilm). The minimum concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate that inhibited biofilm growth was determined. Growth of the biofilms was successfully monitored by direct optical density measurements or those re-suspended in 1 N NaOH. The latter was necessary when glucans were present in Strep. mutans biofilms. The minimum concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate that inhibited biofilm growth was 1.25 microg ml(-1) for both species. The attached bacteria exhibited common biofilm characteristics.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
The assay system developed was especially useful for monitoring the growth of adherent Strep. mutans in the presence of glucans, which is particularly significant for the study of anti-plaque chemicals.