Desulfovibrio fairfieldensis adhesion on implantable titanium used in odontology: a preliminary study

Abstract

The study presented here aimed to assess the ability of Desulfovibrio fairfieldensis bacteria to adhere to and form biofilm on the structure of titanium used in implants. D. fairfieldensis was found in the periodontal pockets in the oral environment, indicating that these bacteria can colonize the implant-bone interface and consequently cause bone infection and implant corrosion. Plates of implantable titanium, of which surfaces were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, were immersed in several suspensions of D. fairfieldensis cells containing potassium nitrate on the one hand, and artificial saliva or a sulfato-reducing bacterial culture medium on the other hand. Following various incubation timepoints bacteria were counted in different media to determine their doubling time and titanium samples are checked for and determination of the total number of adhered bacteria and biofilm formation. Adhesion of D. fairfieldensis on titanium occurs at rates ranging from 2.105 to 4.6.106 bacteria h-1cm-2 in the first 18 h of incubation on both native and implantable titanium samples. Following that time, the increase in cell numbers per h and cm2 is attributed to growth in adhered bacteria. After 30 days of incubation in a nutrient-rich medium, dense biofilms are observed forming on the implant surface where bacteria became embedded in a layer of polymers D. fairfieldensis is able of adhering to an implantable titanium surface in order to form a biofilm. Further studies are still necessary, however, to assess whether this adhesion still occurs in an environment containing saliva or serum proteins that may alter the implant surface.

The submandibular and sublingual glands maintain oral microbial homeostasis through multiple antimicrobial proteins

“…Desulfovibrio species are gram-negative bacteria that use sulfate compounds as terminal electron acceptors in their respiratory chain ( Tchinda et al., 2021 ). In humans, Desulfovibrio species ( D. fairfieldensis , D. piger , and D. vulgaris ) have been found in the oral cavity and reportedly cause infection ( Tee et al., 1996 ).…”

In Vitro Molecular Study of Titanium-Niobium Alloy Biocompatibility

“…As immune cells, especially macrophages and dendritic cells—the first and the main effectors of immune system—are involved in osseointegration failure of implants [ 23 ], our main objective was to analyze the grown potential of THP-1 cells expected more sensitive to metal leakage in presence of a wide range of niobate ion doses (KNbO 3 salt): 3.1 to 200 μg/mL. Indeed, released niobium species may induce local inflammation, attract bacteria and, finally, induce biofilm formation onto TiNb implants, as was evidenced with TiCp [ 45 ]. Finally, osteolysis may occur that leads to dental peri-implantitis, the main cause of implant failure.…”

Biocompatibility of ZrO2 vs. Y-TZP Alloys: Influence of Their Composition and Surface Topography

“…The prevalence of peri-implantitis in a group of Moroccan patients (642 implants in 145 subjects followed up for a mean of 6.4 years) was 41.4% at the subject level and 22.7% at the implant level [5]. A study conducted by Tchinda et al in 2021 suggested that anaerobic bacteria of the genus Desulfovibrio fairfieldensis can create biofilm colonies on titanium coupons and proliferate in vitro under oral physiological conditions [6]. Moreover, a few cases of titanium allergies involving dental implants are reported in the literature [7].…”