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Wallonelli
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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Veillonella (veillonella) - one of the dominant (quantitatively) inhabitants of the oral cavity and the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. They are obligate-anaerobic gram-negative small coccobacteria. These bacteria are immobile, they do not form a spore. In a swab of pure culture are located as spherical diplococci, clusters in the form of bunches or short chains.
Isolated colonies of vellonella on lactatagar reach 1-3 mm in diameter, smooth, convex, lenticular or diamond-shaped, opal or yellow-white, soft in consistency.
In the oral cavity there are representatives of two types: V. Parvula and V. Alcalescens. They inhabit the mucous membrane of the mouth, palate, are dominant in the saliva and ducts of the salivary glands.
Due to the peculiarities of biochemical activity - veynellella well fermented with acetic, pyruvic and lactic acids - play an important role in the oral cavity, neutralizing acidic metabolic products of other bacteria. This allows us to consider Veyllonellas as antagonists of cariogenic streptococci and the most important factor of human resistance to tooth decay. The pathogenic role of Vallonella in the development of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity has not been proven, although they are often isolated from purulent exudate in association with other anaerobic bacteria.