Читать книгу Applied Oral Physiology - Robin Wilding - Страница 78

The traditional theory of organisms causing diseases was defined by Koch in his isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the cause of tuberculosis. This theory stresses the vital role of the single organism and makes the isolation of pure cultures essential for proper diagnosis. However, diseases are also caused by communities of organisms which are for the most part endogenous or common symbionts of the body. In these conditions, it is necessary to culture at least a consortium of likely organisms as no single organism produces the disease. The diversity of organisms in the collective consortium is essential for the system to exert its effect. Marsh was the first microbiologist to culture a consortium of organisms in the investigation of dental caries and periodontal disease. This break with tradition led to the development of variations in artificial mouth simulations which have led to great advances in understanding the complexity of these diseases. We now know that we should not be looking for a single organism responsible for either caries or periodontal disease, but a group whose interdependence may be crucial to their success as pathobionts.