Adherence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans on oral epithelial cells

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is capable of colonizing mucosa and de ntal plaque and plays an important role in periodontal disease in young peo ples and adult. Adherence mechanisms on epithelial cells, tooth or oral bac teria and gingival invasion probably are the initial steps in the pathogene sis of gingivitis or periodontitis. In this study, the adherence of A. acti nomycetemcomitans on oral epithelial cells following subculturing were exam ined. The adherence on oral epithelial cells showed high in all the isolate s values but with differences among them and at each time of subculturing. The adherence of A. actinornycetemcomitans FDC Y4 was stable in each of the subcultures. However, adhesion values of all the tested isolates were diff erent except for strains #1, #38 and Y4, suggesting a heterogenicity within this microbial group. Morphologic variations were observed in extracellula r structures of the A. actinomycetemcomitans tested. The adhesion process o n oral epithelial cells of this organism can be influenced by subcultures, but additional studies are necessary to verify the influence of subculturin g on adherence or other virulence factors.