May

24

Oral Spirochetes

May 24, 2009 |

p_gingivalis.jpg

From Here :

The human oral cavity is a highly diversed ecosytem conatining more than 500 species of bacteria, including both cultivable and non-cultivable species. It is believed that infection with a select few Gram-negative anaerobes, called the ‘red-complex’, is responsible for causing periodontitis or ‘gum-disease’, which if not treated leads to tooth loss. My lab focuses on pathogenic mechanisms of the red-complex bacteria by utilizing molecular-genetic and biochemical approaches; the bacteria of the red-complex include Porhyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia (formerly Bacteroides forsythus) and Treponema denticola (a spirochete). My overall objectives are to gain a better understanding of how these pathogenic bacteria initiate colonization, form biofilms and initiate tissue destructive host immune responses critical for disease progression. The research focuses on identifying the virulence factors these bacteria produce and host-cell receptors involved in recognition of virulence factors. Once these virulence factors and host cell receptors have been identified, the logical next step would be to develop intervention strategies, such as vaccines, against these bacteria. In this regard, we have developed genetic systems in non-pathogenic oral streptococci (Streptococci gordonii) for expression and delivery of vaccine antigens of choice as vectors for oral immunization.

mouthspirochete.jpg
Trepenoma dentricola. Image by Joe Dixon, 2007. From here :
bforsythus.jpg
B.forsythus

More on P.Gingivalis pathogenesis.From Here :


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