Understanding Lactobacillus paracasei and Streptococcus oralis Biofilm Interactions through Agent-Based Modeling
Linda Archambault, Sherli Koshy-Chenthittayil, Angela Thompson, Anna Dongari‐Bagtzoglou, Reinhard Laubenbacher, Pedro Mendes
Abstract
We previously discovered a role of the oral commensal Streptococcus oralis as an accessory pathogen. S. oralis increases the virulence of Candida albicans infections in murine oral candidiasis and epithelial cell models through mechanisms which promote the formation of tissue-damaging biofilms. Lactobacillus species have known inhibitory effects on biofilm formation of many microbes, including Streptococcus species. Agent-based modeling has great advantages as a means of exploring multifaceted relationships between organisms in complex environments such as biofilms.
Topics & Concepts
Streptococcus oralisLactobacillus paracaseiMicrobiologyBiofilmBiologyProbioticBacteriaGeneticsOral microbiology and periodontitis researchBacterial Infections and VaccinesGut microbiota and health