Removing Some Types of Bacteria Key in Preventing Gum Disease

[drsushant]

 

Removing Some Types of Bacteria Key in Preventing Gum Disease

Eliminating certain bacteria is the key to preventing gum disease and tooth loss, according to a new study.

The bacterial access key may be a drug target for people who are more susceptible to gum disease. The study was published in the journal Microbiology.

One type of bacteria, Treponema denticola, builds up in communities to develop into dental plaque. This type of plaque generally results in bleeding gums and gum disease. It could eventually lead to periodontitis or tooth loss.

The destructive nature of Treponema denticola stems from the fact that it possesses a molecule on the surface, known as CTLP, that provides the bacterium the ability to thrive in the entire community, according to the University of Bristol. CTLP can cause major damage to the mouth when working with other bacteria.

This information may be helpful to many people based on the fact that periodontal disease and bleeding gums are common problems for pregnant women, elderly and diabetics.

Researchers can now target ways to counteract the effects of CTLP. If something of this nature were created, it would do wonders for people vulnerable to gum disease.

This study involving the impact of bacteria is the latest from Professor Howard Jenkinson, who specializes in studies of harmful oral bacteria. Jenkinson led this particular study.

        

[Drsumitra]

 Treponema denticola is a motile and highly proteolytic bacterium. The Gram-negative oral spirochete is associated with the incidence and severity of humanperiodontal disease. Treponema denticola levels in the mouth are elevated in patients with periodontal diseases and the species is considered one of the main etiological agents of periodontitis. 

T. denticola dwells in a complex and diverse microbial community in the oral cavity and is highly specialized to survive in this environment.

T. denticola is related to the syphilis-causing obligate human pathogen, Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum.

        

[Drsumitra]

 Treponema denticola is a gram-negative bacterium from the Spirochetes family that is motile, slender, helically shaped and flexible. The organism consists of periplasmic flagella, which allows for mobility by using a proton motive force to cause thrusting through rotation. The flagellum is wound around a helical protoplasmic cylinder that contains ribosomes, genomic DNA, and other cytoplasmic constituents. (Charon NW, 1992) Its habitat is anaerobic and host-associated. It grows at an optimal temperature of 30-42°C, with a pH of 6.5-8.0. It is commonly found in the human oral cavity, specifically in subgingival dental plaque, and it is often associated with periodontal disease (Seshadri et al., 2004).

Periodontal disease results in inflammation of the gum tissue, bone resorption, and subsequent tooth loss. Periodontal disease has now become a major concern in dentistry and 80% of adults in the USA are estimated to have had periodontal disease at some point in their lives (Seshadri et al., 2004). The complete genome of T. denticola strain 35405 was sequenced by using the random shotgun method described for genomes sequenced by The Institute for Genomic Research and it was designated as the type strain by Chan et al

Pathology

Treponema denticola is a bacterial pathogen that produces endotoxin proteins, which utilize enzymatic activities (Hunt, 2005). It causes periodontal disease and gum inflammation. It’s an infection caused by several types of microorganisms of the gingiva that can lead to severe effects including refractory periodontitis and acute necrotizing gingivitis, resulting in bone resorption and tooth loss. This organism causes disease by aggregating in subgingival plaque with Porphyromonas gingivalis and it uses several mechanisms in order to survive harsh conditions, such as oral biofilms. (Kuramitsu et al, 2005)

Application to Biotechnology

Treponema denticola is resistant to the harsh environment produced by beta-defensins. Beta-defensins are antimicrobrial peptides with activity to destroy microbes and periodontal pathogens. Beta-defensins are produced by the oral epithelium, tongue, and salivary glands, and are used as an immune response during inflammation. Treponema denticola’s ability to survive the effects of beta-defensins is a characteristic that can provide insight into possible treatments to break down such organisms

        

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