| Title | Direct current exerts electricidal and bioelectric effects on Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilms partially via promoting oxidative stress and antibiotic transport |
|---|---|
| Author | Peihui Zou1,2, Peng Li1,2, Jia Liu1,2, Pei Cao1,2, and Qingxian Luan1,2 |
| Address | 1Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China, 2Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Computerized Dentistry Ministry of Health, NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, Beijing 100081, P. R. China |
| Bibliography | Journal of Microbiology, 60(1),70-78, 2022, |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12275-022-1238-5 |
| Key Words | direct current, Porphyromonas gingivalis, biofilms, electricidal effect, bioelectric effect |
| Abstract | Low electric current can inhibit certain microbial biofilms and enhance the efficacy of antimicrobials against them. This study investigated the electricidal and bioelectric effects of direct current (DC) against Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilms as well as the underlying mechanisms. Here, we firstly showed that DC significantly suppressed biofilm formation of P. gingivalis in time- and intensity-dependent manners, and markedly inhibited preformed P. gingivalis biofilms. Moreover, DC enhanced the killing efficacy of metronidazole (MTZ) and amoxicillin with clavulanate potassium (AMC) against the biofilms. Notably, DC-treated biofilms displayed upregulated intracellular ROS and expression of ROS related genes (sod, feoB, and oxyR) as well as porin gene. Interestingly, DC-induced killing of biofilms was partially reversed by ROS scavenger N-dimethylthiourea (DMTU), and the synergistic effect of DC with MTZ/AMC was weakened by small interfering RNA of porin gene (si-Porin). In conclusion, DC can exert electricidal and bioelectric effects against P. gingivalis biofilms partially via promotion of oxidative stress and antibiotic transport, which offers a promising approach for effective management of periodontitis. |