Open AccessStructural studies of microcosm dental plaques grown under different nutritional conditions
Author(s) -
Pratten Jonathan,
Andrews Christopher S.,
Craig Duncan Q.M.,
Wilson Michael
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09233.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , microcosm , saliva , confocal laser scanning microscopy , sucrose , mucin , confocal laser scanning microscope , enamel paint , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , in vivo , biology , bacteria , food science , biophysics , materials science , biochemistry , ecology , biomedical engineering , composite material , medicine , genetics
The aim of this study was to investigate the structure of intact oral biofilms using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Mixed‐species biofilms were grown on enamel discs in a constant depth film fermentor. The biofilms were fed with a mucin‐containing artificial saliva with or without sucrose supplementation. Biofilms were examined using a Wild‐Leitz CLSM, operating in reflected light mode. The microstructure of non‐supplemented biofilms was revealed to be complex, with stacks of bacteria developing over time, separated by clear channels. Sucrose‐supplemented biofilms appeared to colonise the substratum more rapidly. The results of this study have shown that using CLSM it is possible to examine the structure of oral biofilms grown under conditions similar to those which would exist in vivo.