Preclinical Paediatrics · MU Sofia

32. Oral biological system and oral ecology - oral resident microflora.

Explains the oral biological system and oral ecology, defining ecology, ecosystem, econiche, niche and the resident, transient and opportunistic microflora. It then covers how oral flora is acquired from birth, how the ecosystem forms over successive periods, and how colonisation changes through the life cycle, including tooth eruption and loss. The note closes with the main species on mucosal and dental surfaces and the protective and nutritional functions of resident microflora, such as colonisation resistance.

Inside: 7 sections · 16 flashcards · 7 min

Topic 32 of 40 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Preclinical Paediatrics (Dental Medicine, Year 3). The free AceMed note covers it in 7 sections, about 985 words (7 min of reading), with 16 flashcards.

In this note

  1. ORAL BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM AND ORAL ECOLOGY - ORAL RESIDENT MICROFLORA
  2. ORIGIN OF ORAL MICROFLORA
  3. FORMATION OF ECOSYSTEM
  4. BACTERIA DURING THE LIFE CYCLE
  5. PERIODS OF FORMATION OF ORAL ECOSYSTEM
  6. ORAL SURFACES
  7. MICROFLORA

ORAL BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM AND ORAL ECOLOGY - ORAL RESIDENT MICROFLORA

ECOLOGY= Scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environments, such as the interactions that organisms have with each other and with their abiotic environment

ECOSYSTEM= composed of microbial communities living on specific sites surrounded by different physical and chemical elements

  • Composed of dynamically interacting parts including organisms, communities they make up and non-living components of their environment
  • Ecosystem processes (i.e. primary production, nutrient cycling and various niche construction activities) regulate the flux of energy and matter throughout an environment

ECONICHE= “Set of biotic and abiotic conditions in which a species is able to persist and maintain stable population sizes”- Hutchinson

NICHE= Describes the way species responds to resources and competitors’ distribution and how it alters those factors (conditions in which a species is able to persist and maintain stable population size)

ORAL MICROFLORA= community of MOs coexisting in oral cavity as its primary habitat

  • Bacteria colonise various surfaces present in oral cavity, and communicate between each other through complex cell signalling processes
  • Body’s own defences maintain a balanced and healthy oral environment

RESIDENT MICROFLORA= typical microflora of econiche where MOs are grouped according to different conditions of life

  • Functions are digestive and nutritional and competition with pathogenic microflora

TRANSIENT MICROFLORA= microbes just passing through that may colonise the same areas of the body as do resident microbiota

  • Transients are unable to remain in the body for extended periods of time due to competition from resident microbes, elimination by immune system and physical or chemical changes within the body

OPPORTUNISTIC MICROBES

  • If the opportunity arises, some resident and transient microbes can cause disease and become opportunistic pathogens
  • Can be due to:
  • Immune system isn’t working properly so normal flora can overpopulate
  • Disrupted balance of normal microbes (from broad spectrum antibiotics)
  • Traumatic introduction of flora in an area that it doesn’t normally occur in
  • Endogenous Microflora: microflora already present in the body that’s previously inapparent or dormant e.g. bacterial flora
  • Exogenous Microflora: MOs introduced to closed biological systems from external world
  • Exists in aquatic and terrestrial environments as well as atmosphere

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