Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is a Gram-positive coccus, its genus represents a significant health risk to humans due to its high proliferative capacity, survival in hostile environments and production of various virulence proteins (hemolysins, bacteriocins, proteases, agglutinins); combined with its resistance to antimicrobials, this pathogen poses a serious concern to healthcare systems. The aim of this bibliographic research was to highlight the virulence factors (VF) of E. faecalis, whose dissemination will facilitate insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the conditions caused by this bacterium. It was found that, at the oral level, E. faecalis is characterized by the formation of resistant biofilms with high adaptability and proliferation rates, leading to considerable infectious episodes that are resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics. Therefore, to contro...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to detect the incidence of S. aureus on mobile phone screens of last-year dental students using microbiological techniques. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional observational study. 92 samples were taken from mobile phone screens, S. aureus was identified by microbiological tests: mannitol fermentation, positive reactions to deoxyribonuclease, catalase and coagulase tests. Results: 16 strains of S. aureus 16/92 (17.4%) were isolated on mobile phone screens. 100% of the strains emerged positive reactions to deoxyribonuclease, catalase and coagulase tests. Conclusions: The presence of S. aureus is evidenced in cell phone screens of senior students’ mobile phones, which represents a risk for the spread of this pathogen.

Periodontal disease is characterized by the presence of complex subgingival microbial communities, encompassing up to 500 bacterial species, with Socransky’s red complex being particularly notable. However, recent systematic reviews have identified the critical role of other microorganisms in biofilm formation and dental surface colonization, including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Helicobacter pylori, and Candida albicans, which may also act as significant pathogens within the periodontal context. This study aimed to analyze the presence of lesser-known microorganisms that could play a crucial role in periodontal disease. A descriptive documentary research approach was employed through a narrative bibliographic review, involving searches for scientific articles in databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, SciELO, and Scopus. Thirty-four articles meeting the establis...

Objectives: The aim of this article was to investigate the pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) and identify it by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Materials and methods: The alkaline lysis technique was used for DNA extraction, and a segment of the 16S rRNA gene of A. actinomycetemcomitans was amplified by PCR and specific primers. The specificity of the primers was tested using genetic material extracted from the reference strain A. actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 33384, against other strains. Results: This pathogen was investigated in detail and A. actinomycetemcomitans was identified by means of specific primers. Conclusions: A sensitive and specific technique for the detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans was obtained by conventional PCR.