Abstract

The present study utilized an in vitro dual-species biofilm model and an in vivo rat post-treatment endodontic disease (PTED) model to investigate whether co-infection of Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis would aggravate periapical lesions. The results showed that co-culturing yielded a thicker and denser biofilm more tolerant to detrimental stresses compared with the mono-species biofilm, such as a starvation-alkalinity environment, mechanical shear force and bactericidal chemicals. Consistently, co-inoculation of E. faecalis and C. albicans significantly increased the extent of in vivo periapical lesions compared with mono-species infection. Specifically, coexistence of both microorganisms increased osteoclastic bone resorption and suppressed osteoblastic bone formation. The synergistic effects also up-regulated inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-6. In summary, coexistence of C. albicans and E. faecalis increased periapical lesions by enhanced biofilm virulence.

摘要

本研究利用体外双物种生物膜模型和体内大鼠治疗后牙髓疾病 (PTED) 模型来研究白色念珠菌和粪肠球菌的共同感染是否会加重根尖周病变。结果表明，与单一物种生物膜相比，共培养产生了更厚、更致密的生物膜，更能耐受有害应力，例如饥饿-碱性环境、机械剪切力和杀菌化学物质。一致地，粪肠球菌和白色念珠菌的共同接种显着增加了体内的程度根尖周病变与单种感染相比。具体而言，两种微生物的共存增加了破骨细胞的骨吸收并抑制了成骨细胞的骨形成。协同作用还上调炎症细胞因子，包括TNF-α和IL-6。总之，白色念珠菌和粪肠球菌的共存通过增强的生物膜毒力增加了根尖周病变。