Quantification of Biofilm Formation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans with Various Genotype and Phenotype

• Main Authors: Rexvid, Shadi, Lundmark, Åsa
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Umeå universitet, Institutionen för odontologi 2017
• Subjects: Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-143975

ABSTRACT   Biofilm is associated to many chronic infections among which periodontitis in one. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a related bacterium associated to aggressive periodontitis with early onset in younger individuals. In a previous study where bacterial samples were collected from adolescents in Ghana, a specific genotype of A. actinomycetemcomitans, serotype b, was found to be highly virulent and associated to the increased risk of developing attachment loss (AL ≥ 3 mm). This study aimed at determining biofilm formation on 45 serotype b isolates of A. actinomycetemcomitans from the Ghana study and identifying possible correlations with virulence properties of the bacterium, as well as clinical data of the infected individual. The hypothesis was that the capacity to form biofilm is a factor that contributes to the pathogenic potential of A. actinomycetemcomitans. The isolates were cultivated on plastic microplates, stained and biofilm formation quantified spectrofotometrically. An increased absorbance was considered as enhanced ability to form biofilm. All isolates formed biofilm. High and medium levels of biofilm formation significantly correlated to AP-PCR type 1 positive bacteria (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01 respectively). No significant association was found to AL in the infected individuals. Even though the capacity to form biofilm in the initial phase of colonization might be important, its role in individuals already infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans is of subordinate to its pathogenic potential.