Advanced Dental Biofilm

Summary

This script describes a detailed microscopic examination of subgingival dental plaque, revealing a highly organized biofilm teeming with movement. The presence of amoebas, such as Entamoeba gingivalis, indicates advanced oral disease. The video captures various microorganisms, including bacteria with wave-like movements for nutrient and waste exchange, and trichomonads with flagella. The intriguing observation of an amoeba engulfing a spirochete, typically not preyed upon, highlights the complex interactions within the oral microbiome. The script emphasizes the diversity of bacteria in the mouth and the challenges in fully identifying and sequencing them.

Takeaways

• 🦠 The script describes a sub gingival dental plaque sample, which is a highly organized advanced biofilm with a lot of movement.
• 🔍 An amoeba is observed pushing its way through the biofilm, which is indicative of a very advanced disease state in the oral cavity.
• 🌊 The biofilm exhibits wave-like movements, which are thought to help distribute nutrients and remove waste products.
• 📡 At higher magnification, multiple amoebas and their unique movement patterns are visible, distinguishing them from other organisms.
• 🔬 The video shows two trichomonas organisms with flagella, appearing to be trapped and moving in a synchronized manner within the plaque.
• 👨‍🔬 The speaker adjusts the microscope settings to better observe and contrast the activity within the biofilm.
• 🍽️ A detailed view of an amoeba's food vacuole is provided, showing the ingestion of a spirochete, which is unusual as these are not typically consumed by amoebas.
• 🧬 It is mentioned that there are possibly hundreds of different types of bacteria living in the mouth at any one time, with technology not yet able to sequence all of them.
• 🧐 The script highlights the complexity of oral microbiota, with companies offering DNA sampling to identify pathogenic bacteria.
• 🔴 The food vacuole within an amoeba contains a trapped spirochete, suggesting the amoeba may have consumed a white blood cell that contained it.
• 🤔 The fate of the spirochete within the amoeba is uncertain, as amoebas are known to dissolve and excrete toxins from ingested material.
• 📝 The patient from whom the sample was taken decided against treatment, which the speaker finds quite surprising given the advanced state of the biofilm.

Q & A

What is a subgingival dental plaque?

A subgingival dental plaque is a highly organized advanced biofilm that forms below the gumline, consisting of a complex community of bacteria and other microorganisms.

Why are amoebas in the oral cavity a cause for concern?

Amoebas, such as Entamoeba gingivalis, are indicative of a very advanced disease state in the oral cavity and are not typically found there, suggesting a severe infection or disease.

What is the significance of the wave-like movement observed in the biofilm?

The wave-like movement in the biofilm is a coordinated action of bacteria that helps distribute nutrients and remove waste products, which is essential for the survival and growth of the biofilm.

What are trichomonas and how do they behave in the plaque sample?

Trichomonas are a type of microorganism that can be found in dental plaque. They appear to be beating their flagella in an attempt to move, but are often pressed together in the dense biofilm, resembling an irregular beating heart.

How many different types of bacteria are estimated to be living in the mouth at any one time?

It is estimated that there are six to seven hundred different types of bacteria possibly living in the mouth at any one time.

What is a food vacuole and why is it significant in the amoeba?

A food vacuole is a part of the amoeba where it stores and digests food. It is significant because it can contain engulfed microorganisms, such as white blood cells or spirochetes, which the amoeba digests.

What is unique about the interaction between the amoeba and the spirochete in the food vacuole?

The interaction is unique because it is uncommon for an amoeba to ingest a spirochete, as they are both considered pathogenic microorganisms, and typically do not consume each other.

What does the speaker imply about the current state of technology in identifying oral bacteria?

The speaker implies that while technology has advanced to the point where some companies can perform DNA sampling to identify pathogenic bacteria, it has not yet reached a stage where all the different types of bacteria in the mouth can be sequenced and identified.

Why did the speaker adjust the microscope settings despite being instructed not to?

The speaker, identifying as a 'good geek', adjusted the microscope settings to improve contrast and gain a better view of the biofilm, despite being instructed not to alter the settings too much.

What is the significance of the amoeba's ability to dissolve and excrete toxins from ingested material?

The ability of the amoeba to dissolve and excrete toxins is significant as it demonstrates the complex interactions and processes within the oral biofilm, which can impact the overall health and disease progression in the oral cavity.

Outlines

00:00

🦠 Advanced Biofilm and Amoeba Activity

This paragraph describes an advanced sub gingival dental plaque sample, a highly organized biofilm. The video script details the movement of amoebas, particularly one pushing through the biofilm, which is highlighted with a red arrow. The presence of amoebas in the oral cavity indicates a severe disease state. The script also mentions a wave-like movement of bacteria, which facilitates the distribution of nutrients and the removal of waste. At higher magnification, the video shows trichomonas with flagella and white blood cells (PMNs) that are overwhelmed by the bacterial mass. The narrator tweaks the microscope settings to enhance the contrast and observe the food vacuole within an amoeba, which later captures a spirochete, challenging the common notion of similar pathogens working together.

05:00

🔬 Amoeba's Digestive Process and Interaction with Spirochetes

The second paragraph focuses on the digestive process of the amoeba Entamoeba gingivalis, which prefers to consume dead PMN cells. The script suggests that a spirochete was engulfed by the amoeba while inside a white blood cell. The amoeba's ability to dissolve and excrete toxins is highlighted. The video captures the spirochete trapped within a food vacuole, moving around, which might indicate the presence of two spirochetes. The paragraph concludes with an observation of amoebas passing each other and PMNs attempting to combat the bacterial presence. Interestingly, the patient in the video chose not to undergo treatment, leaving the dental plaque untreated.

Keywords

💡Sub gingival dental plaque

Sub gingival dental plaque refers to the bacterial biofilm that forms below the gum line, which is a key focus of the video. It is a complex community of microorganisms that can lead to dental diseases if not properly managed. In the script, the speaker describes the highly organized advanced biofilm and its movement, indicating a severe dental condition.

💡Biofilm

A biofilm is a structured community of microorganisms that are enmeshed in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances they produce. In the context of the video, the biofilm is depicted as highly organized and advanced, which is indicative of a serious oral health issue, as the speaker points out with the amoeba's movement through the biofilm.

💡Amoeba

An amoeba is a type of single-celled organism that can change its shape and move by extending pseudopodia. In the video, the presence of amoebas in the oral cavity is highlighted as a sign of advanced disease, with the speaker observing their movement and identifying them by their unique wave-like motion.

💡Mucus

Mucus is a slimy substance produced by the mucous membranes and gland cells. Although not explicitly mentioned in the script, the term can be inferred from the description of the biofilm's properties and its role in transporting nutrients and waste products within the oral biofilm.

💡Trichomonas

Trichomonads are a group of protozoa characterized by their flagella, which they use for locomotion. In the video, the speaker describes two trichomonads that appear to be trapped in the plaque sample, with their flagella beating in a synchronized manner, illustrating the complexity of the oral biofilm ecosystem.

💡Flagella

Flagella are whip-like structures that protrude from the cell body of certain microorganisms and are used for movement. The script mentions trichomonads beating their flagella, which is an example of how microorganisms navigate and interact within the oral biofilm.

💡PMN white blood cells

PMN stands for Polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which are a type of white blood cell involved in the immune response. The script describes PMN white blood cells being overwhelmed by the number of bacteria in the plaque sample, indicating the body's attempt to combat the infection.

💡Spirochete

A spirochete is a type of bacteria with a spiral shape and is often associated with certain diseases. In the video, the speaker highlights an interesting interaction where a spirochete is trapped inside an amoeba's food vacuole, demonstrating the dynamic and sometimes unexpected relationships within the oral biofilm.

💡Food vacuole

A food vacuole is a specialized compartment within a cell where digestion of ingested material occurs. The script describes an amoeba with a food vacuole containing a trapped spirochete, illustrating the process of ingestion and digestion within the amoeba.

💡Entamoeba gingivalis

Entamoeba gingivalis is a species of amoeba that is associated with periodontal disease. The script mentions this amoeba's preference for consuming dead PMN cells, providing insight into the specific dietary habits of this microorganism within the oral biofilm.

💡Disease state

The term 'disease state' refers to the condition of an organism that is experiencing a disease. In the video, the presence of amoebas and the complexity of the biofilm are indicative of an advanced disease state in the oral cavity, as explained by the speaker.

Highlights

Observation of a highly organized advanced biofilm in sub gingival dental plaque.

Identification of amoebas in the oral cavity, indicative of an advanced disease state.

Demonstration of amoebas' unique wave-like movement through the plaque sample.

Highlighting of three different amoebas in a single frame.

Increase in magnification from 400 to 1000 power for a closer view of amoebas.

Description of bacteria's wave-like formation for nutrient and waste exchange.

Observation of two trichomonas with flagella, appearing as an irregular beating heart.

Presence of PMN white blood cells overwhelmed by the number of bacteria.

Microscope adjustments for better contrast and detail observation.

Detail in the food vacuole of an amoeba, with a trapped spirochete.

Estimation of 600-700 different types of bacteria living in the mouth.

The possibility of DNA sampling to identify pathogenic bacteria.

Capturing an amoeba with a food vacuole containing a squirming spirochete.

Hypothesis of the spirochete being inside a white blood cell engulfed by the amoeba.

Demonstration of the amoeba's ability to dissolve and excrete toxins.

Observation of two amoebas passing each other, resembling lava lamps.

Patient's decision against treatment despite the advanced dental plaque condition.

Transcripts

this is a sub gingival dental plaque

sample highly organized advanced biofilm

you can see tons of movement in the

slide very very organized over on the

nine o'clock position

let's see I'll highlight this with the

red arrow you'll see an amoeba kind of

pushing its way through the biofilm

Mabus definitely do not belong in the

oral cavity they are indicative of a

very advanced disease state and you see

this wave-like movement on some of these

areas of the slide and we're going to go

to a higher power in just a minute but

in this frame you can see three

different amoebas in this in the same

frame and it you can tell they're

amoebas if you just look how they're how

they're moving through the plaque sample

so increasing magnification from 400 to

1000 power again we get a little

close-up view of the amoeba who's here

and just to the right of that you have

this organized mass of bacteria that are

beating in a wave-like formation and

that gets nutrients to where they need

to go and it gets toxins out waste

products out same slide we're looking at

two trichomonas it looks like they're

beating their flagella and and trying to

move but they can't they're kind of

pressed together here in the plaque

sample and they're really not going

anywhere they almost look like an

irregular beating heart

again here's a close-up view of that

synchronized beating of the bacteria and

you can see a couple of pmn white blood

cells in there they're not kind of

overwhelmed of course by the sheer

number of bacteria that are here I

tweaked my microscope a little bit don't

tell bill Landers and Ora Tech I did

that he I was instructed not to play

with my settings too much but like any

good geek I just couldn't listen anyway

you get a little better contrast in

what's going on and this amoeba that's

on the right side of the screen you can

actually see some detail in the food

vacuole z-- that it has inside the

amoeba and a little bit later on I'm

going to show you a spirochete that it

got trapped into one of these amoeba

which is really really interesting

because we tend to think of them on the

same team

causing disease and one does not ingest

the other but I'll show that to you in a

few minutes

you

you know it's estimated that there are

six to seven hundred different types of

bacteria that are possibly living in the

mouth at any one time in this particular

plaque sample to say that we have a few

hundred different types I think might be

an understatement

technology has not gotten to the point

where we can sequence all of these and

know exactly what's in the mouth

although there are a couple of companies

that do do DNA sampling and we can get a

pretty good grasp on some of the most

pathogenic bacteria so here's here's the

here's the exciting part this food

vacuole that I'm highlighting inside

this amoeba keep your eyes on that food

vacuole as the amoeba moves from the

right to the left you'll see in there

squiggling around a spirochete

a lot of times are same-same food

vacuole as it moves around you're

starting to see the the spirochete

wiggle around and I think what occurred

is this amoeba is absolutely full of

dead pmn cells that's what these

entamoeba gingivalis like to eat and I

think the spirochete was probably inside

one of the white blood cells that got it

engulfed by the amoeba and you see him

kind of well he's trapped I would love

to be able to follow this guy it see if

he really makes it because the amoeba

wants something's inside the amoeba it

really has a way of just dissolving it

and and excreting the toxins from it so

I'll keep the slide on this amoeba for a

little bit

you can tell that it's not

superimposition that the spirochete is

like on top or underneath the amoeba

because it stays in that same vacuole

space throughout

you

still moving around inside the vacuole

I'm going to highlight it again with a

red arrow in case you lost track of

where he's at

in this view it looks like there might

even be two spirochetes in that food

vacuole

anyway this is one of my favorite slides

there's no after or treatment on this on

this patient she elected not to do any

treatment at all which is quite

astounding actually once you see this

but in this view you've got two amoeba

that are passing each other and it's

mesmerizing a little bit they kind of

look like lava lamps from the from the

hades

yeah I have a couple of pmns that

they're trying to catch up in wage war

thank you for watching