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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Biofilms of Campylobacter concisus: a potential survival mechanism in the oral cavity

Taghrid Istivan A * and Mohsina Huq A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.

B Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.




Assoc. Prof. Taghrid Istivan is an academic in the School of Science at RMIT University, as an educator, and research leader. She has a PhD in molecular microbiology and MSc in microbial genetics. Her research on pathogens and therapies focuses on microbial colonisation and virulence of bacterial pathogens, in addition to developing novel peptide therapeutics to fight antimicrobial resistance and cancer. She has published more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters in these fields. Her recent research on drug delivery systems is protected by a patent on controlled released biomaterials for the delivery of therapeutics.



Dr Mohsina Huq completed her MSc and PhD in Biotechnology at RMIT University, on research projects focussed on the detection and pathogenesis of the oral bacterium Campylobacter concisus, including biofilm formation and biofilm related genes. She has published several peer-reviewed research papers and a book chapter on the detection and virulence of this bacterium. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Qassim University, in Saudi Arabia.

* Correspondence to: taghrid.istivan@rmit.edu.au

Microbiology Australia 44(2) 100-103 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA23028
Submitted: 14 April 2023  Accepted: 8 May 2023   Published: 24 May 2023

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the ASM. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Campylobacter concisus, a member of the human’s oral microflora, is a Gram-negative, fastidious, microaerophilic bacterium. However, it is debatable whether it should be recognised as a commensal of the human oral cavity, or an opportunistic pathogen as it has been linked to oral and gastrointestinal infections. But there is no doubt that its biofilm-forming capacity has enhanced its survival mechanism whether as a commensal or a pathogen. Hence, through our investigation to assess C. concisus biofilms, we believe that its survival strategy in the oral cavity is enhanced by being protected in the biofilm environment with other oral microbes. Our hypothesis is supported by the findings that oral isolates of this bacterium possess a significantly higher biofilm forming capability than those isolated from the gastrointestinal tract.

Keywords: biofilm formation, Campylobacter concisus, extracellular polymeric substances, hydrogen-requiring campylobacters, luxS gene.


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