Relationship Between Periodontal Disease And Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,657.00
Summary
Periodontal (gum) disease and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases affecting humans. These two diseases have remarkably similar patterns of tissue destruction. It is possible that individuals with chronic periodontitis may prime or predispose individuals prone to developing rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of periodontal disease may help reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
The RgpA-Kgp Proteinase-adhesin Complex And Virulence Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$527,310.00
Summary
Periodontitis is a bacterial-associated inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth which can result in tooth loss. The disease is a major public health problem with a large economic burden. A bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis has now been identified as a major causative agent of chronic periodontitis. We have identified a major virulence factor of P. gingivalis. This virulence factor is a complex of proteins, encoded by two genes, and is involved in binding and destruction of h ....Periodontitis is a bacterial-associated inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth which can result in tooth loss. The disease is a major public health problem with a large economic burden. A bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis has now been identified as a major causative agent of chronic periodontitis. We have identified a major virulence factor of P. gingivalis. This virulence factor is a complex of proteins, encoded by two genes, and is involved in binding and destruction of host tissue. When used as a vaccine in animal models the protein complex protects against P. gingivalis infection. Animal protective sera recognises a segment of the protein complex involved in binding to host substrates. The aim of this project is to continue this work on the characterisation of this complex and its role in virulence in an approach to ultimately develop a defined vaccine against P. gingivalis based on this protein complex, in particular the sequences involved in binding. The expected outcome of this research is the further biochemical characterisation of the RgpA-Kgp protein complex and its role in virulence as well as development of a defined vaccine prepared using recombinant DNA and chemical synthesis techniques that protects against P. gingivalis infection in animal models of disease.Read moreRead less
Polymicrobial Pathogenesis In A Murine Periodontitis Model.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,500.00
Summary
Severe periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the tooth's supporting tissues and is associated with specific pathogenic bacteria. The disease has a large economic burden and is a major public health problem. Three bacterial species have recently been shown to be closely associated with advanced periodontal disease in humans. One of these three bacterial species has been shown to produce periodontal disease in a mouse model of disease and the major proteins on the cell surface o ....Severe periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the tooth's supporting tissues and is associated with specific pathogenic bacteria. The disease has a large economic burden and is a major public health problem. Three bacterial species have recently been shown to be closely associated with advanced periodontal disease in humans. One of these three bacterial species has been shown to produce periodontal disease in a mouse model of disease and the major proteins on the cell surface of this bacterium have been characterized. Further, in this mouse model it has been demonstrated that killed cells of the bacterium or the major surface proteins when used as a vaccine prevent development of disease. The purpose of the current proposal is to extend this work to include all three bacterial species that have been associated with disease in humans. The major surface proteins of all these bacterial species when grown together as high density polymicrobial complexes will be determined. Recent results have shown that in high-density, polymicrobial cultures bacteria communicate using signalling systems which can alter the expression of cell surface proteins associated with disease. The ability of the three bacterial species, when grown in polymicrobial culture, to cause periodontal disease in the mouse model will be determined. This will allow the determination of whether a single species and-or multispecies vaccine is capable of protecting against disease in this model. The significance of the work is that it will increase our understanding of the bacteria associated with periodontal disease and it may lead to the development of an effective vaccine to help prevent disease in humans.Read moreRead less
Development Of An Immunotherapy Against Kgp Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,710.00
Summary
Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth associated with specific bacteria, which results in the destruction of tooth support and ultimately leads to tooth loss. This project aims to develop an immunotherapy against the major virulence factor produced by bacteria associated with the disease. The immunotherapy will be evaluated in animal models of disease.
Molecular Characterization Of The Gingipains Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,000.00
Summary
Chronic periodontitis is a bacteria-associated inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth, which results in the destruction of tooth support and ultimately leads to tooth loss. The disease is a major public health problem with a large economic burden and has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and pre-term birth and low birth weight. The bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis has now been identified as a major pathogen in the development of chronic perio ....Chronic periodontitis is a bacteria-associated inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth, which results in the destruction of tooth support and ultimately leads to tooth loss. The disease is a major public health problem with a large economic burden and has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and pre-term birth and low birth weight. The bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis has now been identified as a major pathogen in the development of chronic periodontitis. We have identified a major virulence factor of P. gingivalis which is an extracellular complex of proteins involved in binding and destroying host proteins. The aim of this proposal is to characterize the secretion, molecular processing and assembly of the cell surface complex using state-of-the-art proteomic techniques. This study will provide valuable insight into the molecular processes of a bacterial pathogen that leads to virulence. Detailed knowledge on the unique molecular events involved in secretion, processing and assembly of a major virulence factor will provide molecular targets for the development of specific inhibitors that may have utility as an adjunctive therapeutic and-or as part of a preventive regime or maintenance program for the control of chronic periodontitis. Further, the molecular insight that will result from this study will have broader application in the understanding of virulence factor processing of a Gram-negative pathogen that will provide paradigms for other bacterial pathogens.Read moreRead less
Allostatic Mediators Of Socioeconomic Inequalities In Periodontitis Among Australian Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,000.00
Summary
Periodontal (gum) disease is a significant cause of tooth loss among adults in Australia. Bacteria (germs) that stick to teeth in dental plaque are the primary cause of gum disease. However, the amount of damage caused to the gums depends heavily on the body's immune system which fights infection throughout the body. Like many other health conditions, gum disease occurs at a higher rate in people in a relatively low socioeconomic-position (SEP) compared to people from high SEP. Studies of other ....Periodontal (gum) disease is a significant cause of tooth loss among adults in Australia. Bacteria (germs) that stick to teeth in dental plaque are the primary cause of gum disease. However, the amount of damage caused to the gums depends heavily on the body's immune system which fights infection throughout the body. Like many other health conditions, gum disease occurs at a higher rate in people in a relatively low socioeconomic-position (SEP) compared to people from high SEP. Studies of other health conditions have shown that psychosocial stress (eg. job strain, financial stress) disproportionately affects people in low SEP groups. Stress, in turn, is known to alter the body's defense mechanisms, including the immune system, contributing to higher rates of conditions such as heart disease. Researchers have used the term allostatic load to describe this failure of the body's defense system under stress. Stress has also been suggested as a contributing factor in gum disease. This study will investigate whether this sequence of events producing allostatic load also plays a role in gum disease. We will study a random sample of 610 Australian adults from the full range of SEP backgrounds. We will ask them about their experience of daily stress, and measure their levels of gum disease and dental plaque. We will also collect samples of fluid from around their gums to measure quantities of two chemicals that indicate the activity of immune defense mechanisms in the gums. We will analyze these results to determine whether stress affects the body's responses to dental plaque, and whether that response accounts for differences in levels of gum disease between SEP groups. Results from this study will pinpoint the role of common bodily defense mechanisms in the development of gum disease. These results may help to identify sources of stress that, if controlled, could reduce rates of gum disease and other conditions affected by allostatic load.Read moreRead less