Plaque-associated bacteria

Plaque-associated bacteria collectively refer to the diverse microbial populations, mainly bacteria, found within **dental plaque**—a highly organized biofilm on the surface of teeth. Dental plaque comprises hundreds of microbial species, predominantly **Streptococcus** (e.g., S. mutans, S. sanguinis), **Actinomyces**, **Neisseria**, **Rothia**, **Veillonella**, **Fusobacterium**, **Porphyromonas**, **Prevotella**, and others[1][2][4]. These organisms participate in biofilm formation and sugar metabolism, contribute to dental caries and periodontal diseases, and interact with the host's immune system. The composition and structure are tightly regulated by ecological succession, physical interactions, and environmental factors such as pH and nutrient availability[1][3][4]. The term "plaque-associated bacteria" is not a standard molecular target in drug development; instead, individual species or biofilm features may be selectively targeted. Examples of current plaque-control strategies include broad-spectrum antimicrobials and approaches to prevent adhesion or biofilm maturation[3]. For precise therapeutic work, specific bacterial species (e.g., Streptococcus mutans) or key molecules (e.g., glucansucrase) should be named as the molecular target rather than the broad community descriptor. In summary, "Plaque-associated bacteria" is a collective name for the complex, diverse bacterial populations in dental plaque biofilm and is not a suitable designation for a molecular drug target[1][3][4].

Other names

Dental plaque microbiotaOral biofilm bacteriaPlaque biofilm bacteria