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THE BIOFILM CONCEPT: CONSEQUENCES FOR FUTURE PROPHYLAXIS OF ORAL DISEASES?

Dept. of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, PB 1052 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway;

^* corresponding author, ascheie{at}odont.uio.no

Biofilm control is fundamental to oral health. Existing oral prophylactic measures, however, are insufficient. The main reason is probably because the micro-organisms involved organize into complex biofilm communities with features that differ from those of planktonic cells. Micro-organisms have traditionally been studied in the planktonic state. Conclusions drawn from many of these studies, therefore, need to be revalidated. Recent global approaches to the study of microbial gene expression and regulation in non-oral micro-organisms have shed light on two-component and quorum-sensing systems for the transduction of stimuli that allow for coordinated gene expression. We suggest interference with two-component and quorum-sensing systems as potential novel strategies for the prevention of oral diseases through control of oral biofilms. Information is still lacking, however, on the genetic regulation of oral biofilm formation. A better understanding of these processes is of considerable importance.

Key words. Oral biofilm, quorum-sensing, two-component signal transduction, histidine kinase, prevention