Extracellular DNA in oral microbial biofilms

Nicholas S Jakubovics; J Grant Burgess

doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2015.03.015

Extracellular DNA in oral microbial biofilms

Microbes Infect. 2015 Jul;17(7):531-7. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.03.015. Epub 2015 Apr 8.

Authors

Nicholas S Jakubovics¹, J Grant Burgess²

Affiliations

¹ School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, UK. Electronic address: nick.jakubovics@newcastle.ac.uk.
² School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, UK.

PMID: 25862975
DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.03.015

Abstract

The extracellular matrix of microbial biofilms is critical for surface adhesion and nutrient homeostasis. Evidence is accumulating that extracellular DNA plays a number of important roles in biofilm integrity and formation on hard and soft tissues in the oral cavity. Here, we summarise recent developments in the field and consider the potential of targeting DNA for oral biofilm control.

Keywords: Biofilm matrix; Competence; Dental plaque; Membrane vesicles; Oral streptococci; eDNA.

MeSH terms

Bacterial Adhesion / genetics*
Bacterial Adhesion / immunology
Biofilms / growth & development*
DNA, Bacterial / genetics*
DNA, Bacterial / immunology
Humans

Substances

DNA, Bacterial