Interactions of Rothia mucilaginosa With Commensal Members of the Oral Microbiota

Abstract

Rothia mucilaginosa is a gram-positive bacterium that is found in the human oral microbiota. Under normal circumstances, it exhibits a commensal relationship with humans. However, in immunocompromised patients and those with medical implants, these bacteria can pose a serious health risk. In this thesis I outline experiments performed to reveal more about the normal role of R. mucilaginosa within the oral microbiota in the hopes of better understanding its transition to virulence. R. mucilaginosa was grown alongside several of its major co-inhabitants in the oral microbiota in pairwise fashion on solid growth media to search for signs of interspecies interactions. After initial screening, those pairs that showed consistent patterns of interaction were selected for further analysis via fluorescence microscopy. A consistent interaction pattern was confirmed between R. mucilaginosa and Streptococcus gordonii. Interactions were also noted between Corynebacterium durum and R. mucilaginosa as well as between Corynebacterium durum and Neisseria elongata.