IADR Abstract Archives
The impact of Fusobacterium nucleatum sub-species on health and disease
Objectives: Oral biofilms are formed of multiple species, and their compositions differ between health and disease. Co-aggregation of the different species is well documented, however their means of communication and in particular the mechanisms of recruitment are less well understood. Fusobacterium nucleatum is of particular interest as it has been shown to interact with multiple species in the oral cavity and it seemingly forms a bridge between health and disease. Previously interactions between the three bacteria of the red complex have been studied in detail, however less is known about the contribution made by F. nucleatum to disease.
Five different subspecies of F. nucleatum have been described to date and currently available data suggest significant differences exist between the subspecies at a genomic level.
Here we aim to compare all five subspecies to establish whether all subspecies can be true or opportunistic pathogens, or whether certain subspecies may be associated with a health promoting or disease-associated biofilm.
Methods: The five subspecies are being whole genome sequenced (Illumina), genomes assembled and comparative genomics employed to compare the strains.
Health and disease-associated biofilms are being grown statically under anaerobic conditions and analysed using quantitative (staining and qPCR) and qualitative (confocal microscopy) methods.
Multi-species biofilms will be used to stimulate eukaryotic cells to measure inflammatory markers.
Results: Differences in planktonic and biofilm growth of the subspecies were observed, which could prove pivotal in vivo.
The genomic variation between the strains will be presented and differences correlated to observed phenotypes.
Conclusions: Fusobacterium nucleatum is an opportunistic human pathogen with pivotal importance in the formation of a disease-associated biofilm in periodontitis. Currently five subspecies (nucleatum, polymorphum, vonventii, animalis and fusiforme) have been described. Here we report the phenotypic and genotypic differences between those and highlight potential implications for health and disease.
Five different subspecies of F. nucleatum have been described to date and currently available data suggest significant differences exist between the subspecies at a genomic level.
Here we aim to compare all five subspecies to establish whether all subspecies can be true or opportunistic pathogens, or whether certain subspecies may be associated with a health promoting or disease-associated biofilm.
Methods: The five subspecies are being whole genome sequenced (Illumina), genomes assembled and comparative genomics employed to compare the strains.
Health and disease-associated biofilms are being grown statically under anaerobic conditions and analysed using quantitative (staining and qPCR) and qualitative (confocal microscopy) methods.
Multi-species biofilms will be used to stimulate eukaryotic cells to measure inflammatory markers.
Results: Differences in planktonic and biofilm growth of the subspecies were observed, which could prove pivotal in vivo.
The genomic variation between the strains will be presented and differences correlated to observed phenotypes.
Conclusions: Fusobacterium nucleatum is an opportunistic human pathogen with pivotal importance in the formation of a disease-associated biofilm in periodontitis. Currently five subspecies (nucleatum, polymorphum, vonventii, animalis and fusiforme) have been described. Here we report the phenotypic and genotypic differences between those and highlight potential implications for health and disease.