The Streptococcus gordonii organism is a commensal member of the human oral flora. It initiates the formation of biofilms on tooth surfaces known as dental plaque, which is strongly associated with the development of dental cavities (caries) and gum disease. It is a frequent causative agent of bacterial endocarditis (inflammation of the membrane lining the heart) which often occurs as a result of oral trauma, allowing S. gordonii to invade the bloodstream and colonize the heart.
With its irregularities and anatomical complexities, the root canal system is one of the most clinically challenging spaces in the oral cavity.
In a recent study published in the journal Advanced Science, researchers explored the dynamic changes in the respiratory tract and gut microbiota in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. They observed and analyzed these changes during different disease progression stages among patients with differential disease severities.
The make-up of the gut microbiome may be linked to a person's risk of developing 'long COVID' many months after initial infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection, suggests research published online in the journal Gut.
The human mouth can harbour more than 700 different species of bacteria. Under normal circumstances these microbes co-exist with us as part of our resident oral microbiota.
University of Louisville researchers are a step closer to eliminating periodontal disease through their work to develop synthetic molecules that prevent a bacteria responsible for the disease from spreading throughout the mouth.
Oral bacteria that escape into the bloodstream are able to cause blood clots and trigger life-threatening endocarditis. Further research could lead to new drugs to tackle infective heart disease, say scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin this week.
A research team at the Faculty of Odontology at Malmö University in Sweden has discovered two new proteins that are of importance to the survival of bacteria and their colonization of the human body. Besides enhancing our knowledge of the ability of bacteria to spread, the findings may also lead to more effective treatment of endocarditis and infections associated with implants.
Scientists are warning that bad teeth, bleeding gums and poor dental hygiene can lead to heart disease.
Bad teeth, bleeding gums and poor dental hygiene can cause heart disease, Professor Howard Jenkinson from the University of Bristol will tell members of the Society for General Microbiology in Trinity College, Dublin today [Thursday 11 September].