IADR Abstract Archives
Metabolic Reducing Activity of Oral Bacteria Biofilms in Parkinson’s Disease
Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by dysphagia, resting tremor, restricted mobility, and oxidative stress. Our previous research revealed that the oral microbiota of patients with PD contained higher amounts of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus vestibularis, and Streptococcus salivarius compared to control. The oxidizing nature of oral streptococcus and antioxidant properties of lactobacillus are well studied. However, no studies have evaluated these organisms’ biofilm formation or symbiotic effects on the host. We hypothesize that oral biofilms containing Lactobacillus may benefit oral health. This study aims to investigate these species for their biofilm formation and metabolic-reducing activity.
Methods: We created agar biofilms with resazurin, an oxidation-reduction indicator, to assess biofilm production and metabolic activity of bacterial strains individually and in combination. After fluorescently staining the agar discs, we imaged the biofilm produced and agar’s redox state using a confocal microscope on three consecutive days. Data was analyzed using NIS AR Analysis software. Growth curves and resazurin reduction were also evaluated in planktonic cultures, individually and in combination.
Results: Biofilm production was not significantly different among test groups. However, metabolic-reducing activity was significantly higher in Lactobacillus alone relative to other individual strains. The combination of Lactobacillus and S. vestibularis cooperatively reduced the resazurin agar significantly faster than the combination of Lactobacillus and S. salivarius. Planktonic cultures of Lactobacillus with either Streptococcus spp. resulted in significantly lower bacterial densities compared to individual cultures; however, the metabolic reducing activity was significantly higher in the mixed cultures.
Conclusions: As expected, Lactobacillus was more metabolically reducing than oral streptococcal strains. We also demonstrated a difference in metabolic activity between the two combinations of oral Lactobacillus and Streptococcus, and enhanced metabolic reducing power in mixed planktonic cultures. These findings suggest that antioxidant properties of bacteria such as Lactobacillus may provide benefits to patients sustaining oxidative stress due to Parkinson's disease.
Methods: We created agar biofilms with resazurin, an oxidation-reduction indicator, to assess biofilm production and metabolic activity of bacterial strains individually and in combination. After fluorescently staining the agar discs, we imaged the biofilm produced and agar’s redox state using a confocal microscope on three consecutive days. Data was analyzed using NIS AR Analysis software. Growth curves and resazurin reduction were also evaluated in planktonic cultures, individually and in combination.
Results: Biofilm production was not significantly different among test groups. However, metabolic-reducing activity was significantly higher in Lactobacillus alone relative to other individual strains. The combination of Lactobacillus and S. vestibularis cooperatively reduced the resazurin agar significantly faster than the combination of Lactobacillus and S. salivarius. Planktonic cultures of Lactobacillus with either Streptococcus spp. resulted in significantly lower bacterial densities compared to individual cultures; however, the metabolic reducing activity was significantly higher in the mixed cultures.
Conclusions: As expected, Lactobacillus was more metabolically reducing than oral streptococcal strains. We also demonstrated a difference in metabolic activity between the two combinations of oral Lactobacillus and Streptococcus, and enhanced metabolic reducing power in mixed planktonic cultures. These findings suggest that antioxidant properties of bacteria such as Lactobacillus may provide benefits to patients sustaining oxidative stress due to Parkinson's disease.
