BRIEFS

New MDP2 (Mobile Dental Photography 2)

The Smile Lite MDP2 Mobile Dental Photography by Prof. Louis Hardan - the ultimate evolution in mobile dental photography – is here. It’s equipped with three groups of next generation “Sun-Like“ LEDs and each group can be lit up individually. A dimmer function gives you the possibility to set four different illumination levels. The increased light power is perfect for posterior shots and the new integrated ergonomic handle provides stable support. The back of the Smile Lite MDP2 is equipped with a universal adapter that is adjustable and fits any smartphone with a width between 55-85mm. Available from Alphabond Dental on (02) 9417-6660, email info@alphabond.com.au or www. alphabond.com.au.

In the genes - risk factors for severe COVID

Severe COVID-19 results from immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Critically-ill COVID-19 patients are more likely to have the primary disease process - hypoxaemic respiratory failure - and that this group of patients have a divergent response to immunosuppressive therapy compared to other hospitalised patients. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care or hospitalisation following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) database was used for comparing the genomes from critically-ill COVID-19 cases with population controls in order to find underlying disease mechanisms. This study used whole genome sequencing in 7,491 critically-ill COVID-19 cases compared with 48,400 controls. There were 23 gene loci that significantly predispose to severe Covid-19, with 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB, PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and co-localisation to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, there was evidence implicating multiple genes, including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A) and increased mucin expression (MUC1), in critical disease. There was evidence from Mendelian analysis for causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5, CD209) and coagulation factor F8. These adhesion molecules have known roles in inflammatory cell recruitment to sites of inflammation, including E-selectin (SELE), intercellular adhesion molecule 5 (ICAM5) and dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule3-Grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN, CD209). Mendelian randomisation results were consistent with a direct link between plasma levels of a closely-related cytokine receptor subunit, IL3ra and critical COVID-19. Mendelian randomisation revealed the genetic evidence in support of a causal role for coagulation factors (F8) and platelet activation (PDGFRL) in critical COVID-19. Overall, these findings are also broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. A key implication is that genetic factors are important in susceptibility and that adhesion molecules could be targets for drug therapy.

Kousathanas A et al. Whole genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical Covid-19. Nature 2022 March 7, doi: 10.1038/s41586-022-04576-6. A robotic microswarm may one day automate the routine of rinsing, brushing and flossing teeth to create a hands-free system for the treatment and removal of tooth-decay-causing bacteria and dental plaque. The technology, developed by a multidisciplinary team at the University of Pennsylvania, is poised to offer a new and automated way to perform the mundane but critical daily tasks. It’s a system that could be particularly valuable for those who lack the manual dexterity to clean their teeth effectively themselves. The building blocks of these microrobots are iron oxide nanoparticles that have both catalytic and magnetic activity. Using a magnetic field, researchers could direct their motion and configuration to form either bristle-like structures that sweep away dental plaque from the broad surfaces of teeth, or elongated strings that can slip between teeth like a length of floss. In both instances, a catalytic reaction drives the nanoparticles to produce antimicrobials that kill harmful oral bacteria on site.

Min Jun Oh, Alaa Babeer, Yuan Liu, Zhi Ren, Jingyu Wu, David A. Issadore, Kathleen J. Stebe, Daeyeon Lee, Edward Steager, Hyun Koo. Surface Topography-Adaptive Robotic Superstructures for Biofilm Removal and Pathogen Detection on Human Teeth. ACS Nano, 2022; DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c01950

Researchers from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry and their colleagues have discovered details of how proteins produced by oral epithelial cells protect humans against viruses entering the body through the mouth. They also found that oral bacteria can suppress the activity of these cells, increasing vulnerability to infection.

Carlos J. Rodriguez-Hernandez, Kevin J. Sokoloski, Kendall S. Stocke, Himabindu Dukka, Shunying Jin, Melissa A. Metzler, Konstantin Zaitsev, Boris Shpak, Daonan Shen, Daniel P. Miller, Maxim N. Artyomov, Richard J. Lamont, Juhi Bagaitkar. Microbiome-mediated incapacitation of interferon lambda production in the oral mucosa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021; 118 (51): e2105170118 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105170118

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