Publications by authors named "Paz Otero-Casal"

The microbial compositions from concurrent peri-implant and periodontal lesions were compared, since the results reported in the literature on the etiological relationship between these oral pathologies are contradictory. Microbial compositions from nine patients were evaluated using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons and Principal Components Analysis. Comparisons between the use of curettes or paper points as collection methods and between bacterial composition in both pathologies were performed.

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Quorum quenching (QQ) is the inhibition of bacterial communication, i.e., quorum sensing (QS).

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Introduction: Recent studies have revealed the presence of -acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) quorum sensing (QS) signals in the oral environment. Yet, their role in oral biofilm development remains scarcely investigated. The use of quorum quenching (QQ) strategies targeting AHLs has been described as efficient for the control of pathogenic biofilms.

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Objective: The present study summarizes the current knowledge on the role of bacterial extracellular signaling systems, known as quorum sensing (QS), in oral biofilm formation, and on the possibility of blocking these microbial communication systems as a potential approach to prevent and treat oral infectious diseases.

Methods: A detailed literature review of the current knowledge of QS in the oral cavity was performed, using the databases MEDLINE (through PubMed) and Web of Science.

Results: Accumulating direct and indirect evidence indicates an important role of QS molecules in the oral microbial ecosystem.

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Acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), the quorum sensing (QS) signals produced by Gram-negative bacteria, are currently considered to play a minor role in the development of oral biofilm since their production by oral pathogens has not been ascertained thus far. However, we report the presence of AHLs in different oral samples and their production by the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. The importance of AHLs is further supported by a very high prevalence of AHL-degradation capability, up to 60%, among bacteria isolated from dental plaque and saliva samples.

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Article Synopsis
  • Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) have been traditionally overlooked in dental plaque studies, which typically focus on other quorum-sensing signals, despite their known role in biofilm formation among various bacteria.
  • The study found that adding AHLs to oral biofilm models influenced lactic acid production and protease activity without significantly affecting overall bacterial growth, indicating a more nuanced role in biofilm dynamics.
  • Notably, the addition of C-homoserine lactone (C-HSL) altered the bacterial composition toward a periodontal profile, suggesting AHLs could play a significant role in dental plaque formation and might provide new avenues for treating periodontal disease.
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