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Biofilms01:29

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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...
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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,...
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Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...
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Archaeal surface appendages are highly specialized structures essential for environmental adaptation, encompassing roles in adhesion, biofilm formation, and motility. Among these appendages, pili and archaella stand out for their distinct morphologies and functionalities, enabling archaea to thrive in diverse and often extreme environments.Pili: Adhesion and Biofilm FormationPili are filamentous structures assembled from pilin protein subunits, primarily contributing to adhesion and biofilm...
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Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

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Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
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Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
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Targeting Pili-Mediated Interactions to Control Dental Plaque Formation.

Shivam Kumar Tiwari1, A Thayalan1, Vengadesan Krishnan1

  • 1Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India.

APMIS : Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica, Et Immunologica Scandinavica
|November 12, 2025
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Dental plaque forms when bacteria attach to teeth using pili. Understanding pili structure and function offers new strategies to prevent oral biofilm development and infections.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Structural Biology
  • Oral Health

Background:

  • Dental plaque is a microbial biofilm linked to oral diseases.
  • Initial bacterial attachment to tooth surfaces is crucial for plaque formation.
  • Pili on bacteria mediate adhesion and coaggregation, driving biofilm growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review structural insights into pili in oral bacteria.
  • To highlight the role of pili in primary colonizers of dental plaque.
  • To explore antiadhesive strategies targeting pili for plaque control.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent structural studies on oral bacteria pili.
  • Analysis of pilus assembly and adhesion mechanisms.
  • Focus on primary colonizers involved in dental plaque.

Main Results:

  • Pili are key for initial bacterial attachment and coaggregation in dental plaque.
  • Structural studies reveal molecular details of pilus-mediated adhesion.
  • Understanding pili offers targets for anti-plaque interventions.

Conclusions:

  • Pili are critical virulence factors in dental plaque formation.
  • Targeting pili-mediated adhesion presents a promising strategy for preventing oral biofilms.
  • Further structural research can guide the development of novel anti-plaque therapies.