Introducing students to the basic properties and characteristics of microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites – the most common infectants in humans. Introducing students to the basics of immunological reactions and immune responses to the presence of microorganisms as well as with vaccination as a form of preventing particular diseases. The objective is also to introduce students to the basics of the pathogenesis of diseases related to microbiological pathogens, clinical sampling for microbiological examinations, storing and transporting specimens, methods of preventing infections, and disinfection and sterilisation methods. The objective of the seminars is to expand the students’ knowledge in relevant areas of particular importance for working in dental medicine, with a special focus on oral microbiota and its role in oral hygiene. The objective of exercises is to introduce students to basic microbiological techniques and methods, methods of choosing the appropriate test for diagnosing oral diseases, and identifying and determining antimicrobial sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms.
Introduction to medical microbiology. Microbiology as a science. History of oral microbiology development. Application of microbiology in dentistry. Nomenclature and taxonomy of microorganisms.
Shapes and morphology of bacterial cells, morphology of viruses, fungi and parasites.
Reproduction of microorganisms, metabolism and genetics. Pathogenicity and virulence; pathogenicity and virulence factors. Effect of physical and chemical agents on microorganisms. Disinfection and sterilisation: methods and practical application. Application of chemical agents in dentistry (disinfection). Antibiotics and antibiotic sensitivity testing: methods and application. Significance of bacterial resistance.
Immunity and the immune system. Antigens and antibodies. Specific humoral immunity. Mechanisms of specific cell-mediated immunity. Mechanisms of occurrence of autoimmune diseases and hypersensitivity reactions. Immunodeficiencies. Active and passive immunisation: vaccination and immune serums.
Families, genera and species of bacteria of particular importance for medicine and dentistry: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Neisseria (N. meningitidis, N. gonorrhoeae), Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium, Bordetella, Enterobacterales (E. coli, Klebsiella, Proteus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium (M. tuberculosis complex, atypical mycobacteria), Treponema pallidum, Rickettsia, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia.
Viruses important for medical and dental practices: Herpesviridae (HSV1, HSV2, VZV, CMV, EBV), Papovaviridae (papillomavirus) Picornaviridae (poliomyelitis virus, coxsackievirus), hepatotropic viruses (HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV), Orthomyxoviridae: influenza virus, Paramyxoviridae: morbillivirus , mumps virus, RSV, parainfluenza viruses, lyssavirus, retroviruses: HIV, neurotropic and arboviruses. Filoviruses (Ebola virus). Prions.
Fungi and moulds: Candida, Mucor, Aspergillus
Oral microflora – oral microbiome, factors affecting the composition of oral microflora.
Genera and species of microorganisms belonging to regular oral microflora: oral streptococci, Veillonella, Lactobacillus, Actinomyces, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Wolinella, Fusobacterium, Capnocytophaga, oral spirochaete, filamentous bacteria, oral protozoa. The most important fungi – genera; Candida, Cryptococcus. Parasites: Trichomonas tenax
Role of bacteria in dental plaque (structure, mechanism of formation); bacterial composition of dental plaque in relation to the localisation of dental plaque in the oral cavity. Aetiopathogenesis of dental caries (microbiological aspects).
Role of dental plaque bacteria in the infection of dental pulp and periapical region. Immunology of dental caries. Periodontitis and periodontosis. Aetiopathogenesis of caries and periodontosis from a microbiological aspect.
PRACTICAL CLASSES
Microscope, microscopy. Unstained samples and staining in microbiology, simple and complex: monochromatic and polychromatic staining; Gram staining, acid-resistant staining.
Sterilisation and disinfection. Instrument preparation for sterilisation. Selection of methods and tools.
Collecting and sending specimens for a microbiological examination. Growth medium.
Cultivation of bacteria. Process of microbiological diagnostics and identification of bacteria, antibiogram.
Serological reactions in microbiology: agglutination reaction, immunofluorescence methods: direct and indirect, immunoassay. Molecular methods in microbiological diagnostics (PCR)
Special microbiology, micromorphology and macromorphology: Staphylococcus; Neisseria , Streptococcus; Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus; Clostridium, Enterobacterales, Mycobacterium, Treponema pallidum. Biotope of the oral cavity, viridans streptococci, Lactobacillus, Actinomyces Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Fusobacterium, oral spirochaete, Candida, oral protozoa. Dental plaque. Viruses – laboratory diagnostics of viral infections: rapid antigen tests, PCR.
Assigned reading:
- Kalenić S. i sur. Medicinska mikrobiologija. Zagreb: Medicinska Naklada; 2019.
- Presečki V. Stomatološka mikrobiologija. Zagreb: Medicinska Naklada; 2009.
Further reading:
- Samaranayake LP. Essential microbiology for dentistry, 3rd edition. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2006.
- Tonkić M i sur. Medicinska mikrobiologija. Praktikum za vježbe za studenta Dentalne medicine. Redak, Split, 2015.