Molecular Principles of Adhesion and Biofilm Formation

Abstract

Oral bacteria are responsible for oral health and disease, including caries, periodontal disease, and endodontic infections. The development of oral diseases is intimately linked with the ability of oral bacteria to form and reside in an adherent multispecies consortium named biofilm. The oral biofilm provides a protective environment for the bacterial community and its formation is a genetically controlled process. In this chapter, we present a general overview of developmental mechanisms employed by individual members of the oral biofilm. The species composition of the oral biofilm and the oral microbiome is discussed historically and in the context of newly developed next-generation sequencing techniques. Furthermore, biofilm-specific regulatory mechanisms and phenotypic traits are explained to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of oral biofilm formation and its role in health and disease.