The effect of indigenous bacterial populations on buccal epithelial cells on subsequent microbial adhesions in vitro
Adherence to host cell surfaces is a prerequisite for colonization by microbes. Thus, there have been a number of studies using a methodology by Gibbons and Van Houte reported in 1971 in Infection Immunology. In this present study, the researchers attempted to determine if this longtime method of evaluating adhesions by bacterium to the oral buccal epithelial cells produced variances that may question the results obtained by the early method.
Their experiment, using eight adults, did show variations between individuals and even within the individuals themselves. These variations, however, did not keep the researchers from forming the following conclusions using this method: Escherichia cold demonstrated a positive correlation between their adhesion to buccal epithelial cells and the indigenous bacterial load, with the reverse situation for Actinomyces naeslundii and Streptococcus mitts, and no obvious relationship for Candida albicans and Streptococcus miller) to the indigenous bacterial load. If a species cannot adhere to cells in the presence of indigenous bacterium, then these species may be competing for the same binding sites. With a positive correlation, co-adhesion may be the explanation.
Samaranayake, L.P., D. Hamilton, and T.W.MacFarlane, Oral Microbiol Immunol, 9:236,1994