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Microbial Rainforest: Unique Cell Division in Oral Bacteria
Context:
Recently, Researchers from the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and ADA Forsyth have revealed a rare cell division method in Corynebacterium matruchotii, a common bacterium in dental plaque.
Dental plaque is merely one microbial community among the vast array of microorganisms that inhabit and coexist within a healthy human body, collectively known as the “human microbiome.”
More on News:
- This bacterium uses a rare cell division process called multiple fission, which affects its role in the complex ecosystem of the human mouth.
- Previous research used a specialised imaging technique called CLASI-FISH (combinatorial labelling and spectral imaging fluorescent in situ hybridisation) to visualise the spatial organisation of dental plaque from healthy donors.
- Identified “hedgehogs” in dental plaque, where filamentous Corynebacterium matruchotii cells formed the core structure.
A Microbial Ecosystem in Mouth
- The mouth hosts a diverse ecosystem with over 500 bacterial species forming structured communities called biofilms.
- These biofilms are dynamic environments where bacteria grow, interact, and compete for resources.
- The traditional view of bacterial division, where one mother cell splits into two daughter cells, doesn’t fully capture the complexity of this microbial world.
Key Highlights:
- The new study used time-lapse microscopy to observe the real-time growth and interactions of C. matruchotii.
- C. matruchotii cells grow and divide through a process of multiple fission, splitting into up to 14 cells at once. They also grow by elongation at one pole of the cell (tip extension).
- In dental plaque biofilms, these filaments form scaffolding, creating dense networks that support other bacterial species.
- The study estimated that C. matruchotii colonies can grow up to half a millimetre per day, demonstrating the rapid expansion of these bacterial communities.
Implications:
- Understanding C. matruchotii’s unique division mechanism provides new insights into how dental plaque forms and persists despite regular brushing.
- C. matruchotii lacks flagella, which are typically used for movement. This absence suggests that its elongation and multiple fission may help it navigate its environment and form beneficial interactions with other species.
- Similar to the way mycelial networks function in fungi and Streptomyces bacteria in soil.