Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
12:16
Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells
Published on: December 17, 2015
Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria in untreated periodontitis
B Zinsli Fritschi1, A Albert-Kiszely, G R Persson
1University of Berne, School of Dental Medicine, Berne, Switzerland.
Journal of Dental Research
|May 27, 2008
Summary
The subgingival microbiota in aggressive periodontitis differ from chronic periodontitis, with specific bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus being more prevalent. Smoking also influences bacterial composition, impacting Tannerella forsythia levels.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Periodontology
- Oral Health
Background:
- The composition of subgingival microbiota in periodontitis is debated.
- The influence of smoking on these bacterial communities remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in subgingival microbiota between chronic and aggressive periodontitis.
- To determine the impact of smoking on bacterial composition in periodontitis patients.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial counts and proportional distributions were analyzed in 84 individuals with chronic periodontitis and 22 with aggressive periodontitis.
- Probing pocket depth was measured to assess periodontal status.
Main Results:
- Seven out of 40 bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus, Parvimonas micra, and Prevotella intermedia, were found at higher levels in aggressive periodontitis.
- Smokers exhibited higher counts of Tannerella forsythia.
- Prevotella intermedia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans were significant indicators for aggressive periodontitis.
- Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Tannerella forsythia differentiated smoking status.
Conclusions:
- The null hypothesis was rejected, indicating significant differences in subgingival microbiota between chronic and aggressive periodontitis.
- Specific bacterial species are associated with aggressive periodontitis and smoking status, challenging previous assumptions.
Related Concept Videos
01:27The 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...
01:29Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
01:29Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...