Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme nitrate reductase...
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
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...
Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle01:26

Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is a complex biogeochemical process critical to maintaining the balance of nitrogenous compounds in ecosystems. This cycle involves multiple microbial-mediated transformations through which nitrogen changes oxidation states, supporting essential ecological functions and contributing to plant and microbial growth.Nitrogen Fixation and AmmonificationNitrogen fixation initiates the cycle by converting inert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia (NH₃), a process...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Sulfide-oxidizing potential and hypersalinity tolerance strategies in salt-crust covered coastal microbial mats.

The ISME journal·2026
Same author

Optimization and interlaboratory validation of the HydroTouch test for fingertip-mediated microbial transmission and antimicrobial efficacy assessment of surfaces.

BMC microbiology·2026
Same author

Neutron Scattering Reveals a Dynamic Surface Equilibrium on l-α-Lecithin Functionalized CsPbBr<sub>3</sub> Nanocrystals.

Nano letters·2026
Same author

Towards machine-learning-based on-the-fly analysis of neutron reflectometry.

Journal of applied crystallography·2026
Same author

A pipeline for megahertz X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy on soft matter samples at the MID instrument of European XFEL.

Journal of synchrotron radiation·2026
Same author

Acid-induced acceleration of kinetics and dynamics during thermal gelation of egg yolk.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Semi-Automated Planimetric Quantification of Dental Plaque Using an Intraoral Fluorescence Camera
09:34

Semi-Automated Planimetric Quantification of Dental Plaque Using an Intraoral Fluorescence Camera

Published on: January 27, 2023

Denitrification in human dental plaque.

Frank Schreiber1, Peter Stief, Armin Gieseke

  • 1Microsensor Research Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany. fschreib@mpi-bremen.de

BMC Biology
|March 24, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Dental plaque drives microbial denitrification, converting nitrate to nitric oxide (NO) and other gases. This process, occurring aerobically, influences oral health and host interactions.

More Related Videos

Ratiometric Imaging of Extracellular pH in Dental Biofilms
13:05

Ratiometric Imaging of Extracellular pH in Dental Biofilms

Published on: March 9, 2016

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
08:20

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries

Published on: March 31, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Semi-Automated Planimetric Quantification of Dental Plaque Using an Intraoral Fluorescence Camera
09:34

Semi-Automated Planimetric Quantification of Dental Plaque Using an Intraoral Fluorescence Camera

Published on: January 27, 2023

Ratiometric Imaging of Extracellular pH in Dental Biofilms
13:05

Ratiometric Imaging of Extracellular pH in Dental Biofilms

Published on: March 9, 2016

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
08:20

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries

Published on: March 31, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Oral Health
  • Biogeochemical Cycles

Background:

  • Microbial denitrification is overlooked in human-associated microbes.
  • Oral biofilms are exposed to high nitrate levels.
  • Dental plaque contains bacteria capable of nitrate reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate microbial denitrification in human dental plaque.
  • To determine the products and conditions of denitrification in the oral cavity.
  • To assess the role of denitrification in oral health and symbiotic interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Microsensor measurements to detect gaseous products.
  • 15N isotopic labeling to trace denitrification pathways.
  • Molecular detection of key denitrification genes.

Main Results:

  • Dental plaque mediates denitrification to nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), and dinitrogen (N2).
  • In vivo N2O accumulation correlates with plaque presence and salivary nitrate.
  • Denitrification occurs under aerobic conditions and is pH-regulated.

Conclusions:

  • NO production by plaque denitrification impacts host signaling, affecting blood flow and inflammation.
  • This finding is crucial for understanding periodontal diseases, previously attributing NO production solely to gingival cells.
  • Establishes denitrification as a significant metabolic pathway in human-associated microbes, facilitating symbiotic interactions.