Abstract

COVO MORALES, E.; DIAZ CABALLERO, A.  and  SIMANCAS PALLARES, M.. Gene expression esp (enterococcus surface protein) of enterococcus faecalis in an in vitro model of extracted teeth. Av Odontoestomatol [online]. 2016, vol.32, n.4, pp.195-204. ISSN 2340-3152.

Objective: To determine the presence and expression of Enterococcus faecalis Esp gene in several strains from an in vitro model on extracted teeth. Methods: An in vitro system was designed to evaluate the biofilm formation through fluorescence microscopy and gene expression that could be associated to biofilm formation. The system consisted of a previously extracted human tooth that was cut and prepared to provide by means of its root canal, an adequate surface for biofilm formation on behalf of Enterococcus faecalis. The system disposed an anaerobe chamber that allowed the growth of bacteria in broth culture and avoided contamination with other microorganisms. This chamber consisted of a sterile micro centrifuge tube, which was cut and united by its inferior end to the apical end of the sectioned tooth. Results: The results obtained with fluorescence microscopy and RT-PCR allowed the quantification of the Esp gene levels of expression in bacteria growing and forming biofilm in root canal surfaces. Conclusion: The expression of Esp gene is associated with biofilm formation in E. faecalis and in the adherence to abiotic surfaces. It could be a promising therapeutic target in control programs for the eradication of persistent infections associated with the presence of E faecalis in biofilm.

Keywords : Genes; biofilms; enterococcus faecalis; endodontics.

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