news from microbia:
It is established that bacteria in dental plaque are the primary etiological agents of both dental caries and periodontal diseases, two of the most common infections to affect humans. Recent investigations have revealed that dental plaque is not an amorphous collection of various bacteria, and that these bacteria live in an organized, co-operating community called a biofilm. Bacteria colonize the biofilm in a sequential manner
and form stable structures that are reinforced by extra cellular
matrices. These bacteria also have communication systems
mediated by the secretion of certain molecules. The biofilm has
fluid and nutrient channels that resemble a rudimentary
circulatory system. Living in a biofilm has several advantages; it
provides nutrition and protection against environmental
changes, anti-microbial and antibiotic agents.
Recent research has shown that a large fraction of this biofilm is
uncultivated and that we know very little about the nature of the
organisms that colonize different biofilms in the oral cavity. This
paradigm shift challenges traditional methods of diagnosing
and treating caries and periodontal disease. This presentation
will focus on the colonization and development of a biofilm and
the implications of biofilm-related research on dental
therapeutics.
from: Dr. Purnima Kumar is an Assistant
Professor of Periodontology at The
Ohio State University. She received
her dental degree from Annamalai
University in India and her PhD in
Molecular Microbiology and Masters
in Periodontology from The Ohio
State University. She is a Diplomate
of the American Board of
Periodontology. Dr. Kumar has
practiced and taught periodontology
for several years in India, United
Arab Emirates and the USA. She also
maintains an active research
laboratory that is funded through the
NIH and industry supported grants.
Her main research focus is on hostbacterial
interactions in periodontal
health and disease. She has several
publications in peer-reviewed
scientific journals, and has written
book-chapters in molecular
microbiology and periodontology.
She has also been invited to lecture
at several national and international
meetings on the microbial etiology of
periodontitis.
