Gene expression of virulence factors of clinical isolates of Fusobacterium nucletaum

• Grant number: 12/07364-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Endodontics
• Principal Investigator: Flaviana Bombarda de Andrade
• Grantee: Raquel Zanin Midena
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Root canals are preferably harbored by anaerobic microorganisms, because of the conditions of the niche and the available nutrients, as most of these microorganisms have a proteolitic metabolism. Bacterial adherence factors provide their installation in the root canal walls, forming biofilms, and they can proliferate inside the dentinal tubules. The microorganisms organized in biofilms exchange genetic material, increasing their resistance. The genes of a clinical isolate are almost impossible to be totally similar to the genes of the standard strains of the same species, such as the strains of culture collections like ATCC (American Type Culture Collection). The present study aims to investigate the anaerobic bacterial species Fusobacterium nucleatum, isolated from root canals, comparing to the strain of the ATCC. The expression of the virulence genes in the biofilm and planktonic forms of F. nucleatum will be investigated. Clinical isolates will be acquired through microbiological culture, isolation and identification by biochemical tests by commercial tests (Api System, Bio-Merieux, France). The expression of these specific genes will be evaluated by Real time - PCR (qPCR) method, i.e., the higher or lower production of adhesion and resistance virulence factors, produced by bacteria in the planktonic form or biofilm, and by clinical isolate or the ATCC strain. The accurate knowledge of the behavior of micro-organisms of root canals will provide better models of study for antimicrobials substances, besides greater knowledge of bacterial virulence.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MIDENA, Raquel Zanin. Antimicrobial susceptibility and RNA purification protocol for gene expression analysis of clinical isolates of Fusobacterium nucleatum. 2015. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB/SDB) Bauru.