Investigation of virulence genes of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from teeth associated with failure of endodontic treatment

• Grant number: 18/00587-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Endodontics
• Principal Investigator: Brenda Paula Figueiredo de Almeida Gomes
• Grantee: Pedro Ivo da Graça Fagundes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/23479-5 - Microbiomes and immunobiological aspects in endodontic infections, AP.TEM

Abstract

The failure of endodontic treatment can be caused by failures in the treatment stages, both in the instrumentation and in the inefficient use of auxiliary irrigating substances for the disinfection of the root canals. In addition, a complex root anatomy and a failure in coronary sealing, causing the penetration of microorganisms via microleakage of the canals, can also be important etiological factors. Without success, Gram-positive bacteria predominate, with Enterococcus faecalis being frequently associated with secondary/ persistent infection. In addition to the high prevalence of E. faecalis in failure, the presence of virulence factors in this specie reinforces the importance of its study. The objectives of this research are: a) to confirm if isolated strains are of Enterococcus faecalis by PCR, with a specific primer for this species; b) Verify the presence of the virulence genes gelE, esp, agg, ace and cylA, by means of PCR, in the strains that have been previously confirmed as E. faecalis. Will be used samples of 20 strains of E. faecalis previously collected and isolated by culture method using m-Enterococcus selective medium and also confirmed using the PCR method using specific primers of this specie. The DNA of strains of E. faecalis confirmed, will be used again for the identification of virulence genes, by means of PCR and reading by electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gel. The virulence genes investigated will be: gelE (gelatinase production), esp (surface protein), agg (aggregation substance), ace (collagen binding adhesin) and cylA (cytolysin activator). The collected data is adapted in a spreadsheet and statistically analyzed using SPSS for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, ILL, USA).

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FRANCISCO, PRISCILA AMANDA; FAGUNDES, PEDRO IVO DA GRACA; LEMES-JUNIOR, JOAO CARLOS; LIMA, AUGUSTO RODRIGUES; PASSINI, MAICON RICARDO ZIEBERG; GOMES, BRENDA P. F. A.. Pathogenic potential of Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from root canals after unsuccessful endodontic treatment. CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS, v. 25, n. 9, p. 5171-5179, SEP 2021. (15/23479-5, 18/00587-5, 17/26973-6)

FRANCISCO, PRISCILA AMANDA; FAGUNDES, PEDRO IVO DA GRACA; LEMES-JUNIOR, JOAO CARLOS; LIMA, AUGUSTO RODRIGUES; PASSINI, MAICON RICARDO ZIEBERG; GOMES, BRENDA P. F. A.. Pathogenic potential of Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from root canals after unsuccessful endodontic treatment. CLINICAL ORAL INVESTIGATIONS, FEB 2021. (17/26973-6, 15/23479-5, 18/00587-5)