Amoebae in Chronic, Polymicrobial Endodontic Infections Are Associated with Altered Microbial Communities of Increased Virulence
Background: Infections of the root canal space involve polymicrobial biofilms and lead to chronic, low grade inflammatory responses arising from the seeding of microbes and by-products. Acute exacerbation and/or disseminating infections occur when established microbial communities undergo sudden cha...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/11/3700 |
| _version_ | 1797547589363564544 |
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| author | Garrit Koller Federico Foschi Philip Mitchell Elizabeth Witherden Kenneth Bruce Francesco Mannocci |
| author_facet | Garrit Koller Federico Foschi Philip Mitchell Elizabeth Witherden Kenneth Bruce Francesco Mannocci |
| author_sort | Garrit Koller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Infections of the root canal space involve polymicrobial biofilms and lead to chronic, low grade inflammatory responses arising from the seeding of microbes and by-products. Acute exacerbation and/or disseminating infections occur when established microbial communities undergo sudden changes in phenotypic behaviour. Methods: Within clinical endodontic infections, we assessedcategorical determinants comprising, and changing microbial composition of, chronic polymicrobial infections and their association with amoebae. After standardised assessment, primary or secondary infections underwent sampling and DNA processing, targeting bacteria, fungi and amoebae, including 16S high-throughput sequencing. After taxonomic assignment, community composition was correlated with clinical signs and symptoms. Diversity and abundance analyses were carried out in relation to the presence of non-bacterial amplicons. Results: Clinical specimens revealed two distinct community clusters, where specific changes correlated with clinical signs. An association between the compositions of microbiomes was found between these groups and the presence of <i>Entamoeba gingivalis</i> in 44% of cases. When amoebae were present in endodontic infections, we demonstrate changes in microbial community structure that mirror those observed in treatment-resistant or recurrent infections. Conclusions: Amoeba are present in endodontic infections at a high prevalence, and may promote increased virulence by enrichment for phagocytosis-resistant bacteria. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:46:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da35a668fb6d4bbfa36e11ca60332c60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:46:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-da35a668fb6d4bbfa36e11ca60332c602023-11-20T21:23:15ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832020-11-01911370010.3390/jcm9113700Amoebae in Chronic, Polymicrobial Endodontic Infections Are Associated with Altered Microbial Communities of Increased VirulenceGarrit Koller0Federico Foschi1Philip Mitchell2Elizabeth Witherden3Kenneth Bruce4Francesco Mannocci5Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Floor 22 Tower Wing, Guy’s Dental Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UKDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Floor 22 Tower Wing, Guy’s Dental Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UKDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Floor 22 Tower Wing, Guy’s Dental Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UKCentre for Host Microbiome Interactions, King’s College London Dental Institute at Guy’s Hospital, King’s Health Partners, London SE1 9RT, UKKing’s College London, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Franklin-Wilkins Building, London SE1 9NN, UKDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Floor 22 Tower Wing, Guy’s Dental Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UKBackground: Infections of the root canal space involve polymicrobial biofilms and lead to chronic, low grade inflammatory responses arising from the seeding of microbes and by-products. Acute exacerbation and/or disseminating infections occur when established microbial communities undergo sudden changes in phenotypic behaviour. Methods: Within clinical endodontic infections, we assessedcategorical determinants comprising, and changing microbial composition of, chronic polymicrobial infections and their association with amoebae. After standardised assessment, primary or secondary infections underwent sampling and DNA processing, targeting bacteria, fungi and amoebae, including 16S high-throughput sequencing. After taxonomic assignment, community composition was correlated with clinical signs and symptoms. Diversity and abundance analyses were carried out in relation to the presence of non-bacterial amplicons. Results: Clinical specimens revealed two distinct community clusters, where specific changes correlated with clinical signs. An association between the compositions of microbiomes was found between these groups and the presence of <i>Entamoeba gingivalis</i> in 44% of cases. When amoebae were present in endodontic infections, we demonstrate changes in microbial community structure that mirror those observed in treatment-resistant or recurrent infections. Conclusions: Amoeba are present in endodontic infections at a high prevalence, and may promote increased virulence by enrichment for phagocytosis-resistant bacteria.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/11/3700endodonticsinfectionpolymicrobial infectionmicrobial ecologymicrobiologybacterial fitness |
| spellingShingle | Garrit Koller Federico Foschi Philip Mitchell Elizabeth Witherden Kenneth Bruce Francesco Mannocci Amoebae in Chronic, Polymicrobial Endodontic Infections Are Associated with Altered Microbial Communities of Increased Virulence Journal of Clinical Medicine endodontics infection polymicrobial infection microbial ecology microbiology bacterial fitness |
| title | Amoebae in Chronic, Polymicrobial Endodontic Infections Are Associated with Altered Microbial Communities of Increased Virulence |
| title_full | Amoebae in Chronic, Polymicrobial Endodontic Infections Are Associated with Altered Microbial Communities of Increased Virulence |
| title_fullStr | Amoebae in Chronic, Polymicrobial Endodontic Infections Are Associated with Altered Microbial Communities of Increased Virulence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Amoebae in Chronic, Polymicrobial Endodontic Infections Are Associated with Altered Microbial Communities of Increased Virulence |
| title_short | Amoebae in Chronic, Polymicrobial Endodontic Infections Are Associated with Altered Microbial Communities of Increased Virulence |
| title_sort | amoebae in chronic polymicrobial endodontic infections are associated with altered microbial communities of increased virulence |
| topic | endodontics infection polymicrobial infection microbial ecology microbiology bacterial fitness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/11/3700 |
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