What are the nanobacteria?

Abstract

Chronic periodontal diseases, which mainly include gingivitis and periodontitis, have been described as the inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth. The main cause of periodontal diseases is the accumulation of the microbial dental plaque. If dental plaque is not eliminated by mechanical or chemical plaque control methods, mineralized dental plaque (calculus) occurs. The mineralization process and mechanisms of the dental calculus formation are similar to that of other pathologic calcifications. The presence of a certain type of microorganism is discovered in various pathological calcifications, such as kidney stones and arterial plaques. This microorganism is the nanobacterium. Thus, it may be considered as a potential risk factor for the chronic periodontal diseases. Nanobacterium is one of the most controversial issues in today’s biological studies. Nanobacteria, as the smallest known self-replicating bacteria, are classified as Gram-negative organisms. Although their growth is slow, they grow best under aerobic conditions. Their doubling time is about three days with the metabolic rate, which is 10,000 times slower than that in Escherichia coli. Nanobacteria are also resistant to heat and various conditions that would normally kill other bacteria. Present data suggest that nanobacteria are only killed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and tetracycline. The aim of this paper was to perform a narrative review of publications on nanobacteria since 1998 and highlight their hypothesized relationship with the periodontal disease.