Friday, October 12, 2012: 3:00 AM
Hall 4E/F (WSCC)
Microbes live and thrive in abundance in our mouth, on our tongue, cheeks, tonsils and
teeth. These microbes live in complex communities in biofilms, notably in the plaque on
our teeth. Hundreds of species of microbes residing in the communities in teeth plaque
have been identified using sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Using a technique
called fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), bacteria in these biofilms can be imaged
and identified, showing that bacteria of different types are all intermixed in the biofilm. Due
to the complexity of these communities, the two to three fluorescent probes that can be
employed in a standard FISH experiment do not allow us to fully analyze the communities
and structures found within. A new technique known as Combinatorial Labeling and
Spectral Imaging FISH (CLASI-FISH) allows us to image these communities using seven
or more fluorescent probes simultaneously and see the closer interactions of multiple
genera and families of bacteria. Using CLASI-FISH, we have found complex and organized
communities of bacteria in plaque including close associations among bacteria identified
as Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Pasteurellaceae, and Porphyromonas. We are using
CLASI-FISH probes targeting sub-genus-level groups and species to examine in more
detail the species composition and structure of these associations.
teeth. These microbes live in complex communities in biofilms, notably in the plaque on
our teeth. Hundreds of species of microbes residing in the communities in teeth plaque
have been identified using sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Using a technique
called fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), bacteria in these biofilms can be imaged
and identified, showing that bacteria of different types are all intermixed in the biofilm. Due
to the complexity of these communities, the two to three fluorescent probes that can be
employed in a standard FISH experiment do not allow us to fully analyze the communities
and structures found within. A new technique known as Combinatorial Labeling and
Spectral Imaging FISH (CLASI-FISH) allows us to image these communities using seven
or more fluorescent probes simultaneously and see the closer interactions of multiple
genera and families of bacteria. Using CLASI-FISH, we have found complex and organized
communities of bacteria in plaque including close associations among bacteria identified
as Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Pasteurellaceae, and Porphyromonas. We are using
CLASI-FISH probes targeting sub-genus-level groups and species to examine in more
detail the species composition and structure of these associations.