Treponema denticola is considered an important oral pathogen in the development and progression of periodontal diseases. In the present study, the mechanisms of recognition and activation of murine macrophages by T. denticola and its major outer sheath protein (MSP) and lipooligosaccharide (LOS or glycolipid) were investigated. T. denticola cells and the MSP induced innate immune responses thro...

Porphyromonas gingivalis sheds outer membrane vesicles that contain several virulence factors, including adhesins. In this study, we investigated the ability of P. gingivalis outer membrane vesicles to mediate the coaggregation and piggybacking of Treponema denticola and Lachnoanaerobaculum saburreum. Marked coaggregation between T. denticola and L. saburreum occurred in the presence of P. ging...

The Treponema denticola ATCC 35405 genome annotation contains most of the genes for de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. To initiate characterization of pyrimidine synthesis in Treponema, we focused on TDE2110 (the putative pyrF, encoding orotidine-50-monophosphate decarboxlyase). Unlike the parent strain, an isogenic pyrF mutant was resistant to 5-fluoroorotic acid. In complex medium, growth of th...

BACKGROUND Results from studies relating periodontal disease to cardiovascular disease have been mixed. Residual confounding by smoking and use of clinical measures of periodontal disease rather than measures of infection have been 2 major criticisms. The aims of this study were to investigate relationships between prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD) and 2 exposures, (1) clinical periodontal...

It has been recognized for some time that bacterial species exist in complexes in subgingival plaque. The purpose of the present investigation was to attempt to define such communities using data from large numbers of plaque samples and different clustering and ordination techniques. Subgingival plaque samples were taken from the mesial aspect of each tooth in 185 subjects (mean age 51 +/- 16 y...

Preterm and low birthweight (PTLBW) continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity across the world. In recent years, maternal periodontal disease has been implicated as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is conflicting evidence to support such an outcome as illustrated by descriptive, case control and randomised controlled trials involving pregnant women from across ...

Oral Treponema species, most notably T. denticola, are implicated in the destructive effects of human periodontal disease. Progress in the molecular analysis of interactions between T. denticola and host proteins is reviewed here, with particular emphasis on the characterization of surface-expressed and secreted proteins of T. denticola involved in interactions with host cells, extracellular ma...

Alveolar bone destruction is a characteristic feature of periodontitis. Treponema denticola is known to be involved in periodontitis. To elucidate the role of T. denticola in alveolar bone destruction in periodontitis, the effects of lipooligosaccharide (LOS) from T. denticola on osteoclast formation and on expression of osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNAs we...

BACKGROUND Treponema denticola is strongly associated with the development of periodontal disease. Both synergistic and antagonistic effects are observed among bacterial species in the process of biofilm formation. Bacteriocin-related genes have not yet been fully characterized in periodontopathic bacteria. The aim of this study was to detect and characterize bacteriocin-associated proteins in ...