Characterization Of Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Fluoride Phosphate As A Remineralization System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,514.00
Summary
Dental caries (tooth decay) remains a major public health problem in Australia with an economic burden in excess of $1 billion p.a. The overall aim of this project is the development of a novel remineralizing agent (casein phosphopeptide stabilized amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate) for the remineralization of early tooth decay lesions (white spot lesions). The project will involve the testing of the ability of the novel remineralization system to remineralize (repair) white spot lesions in v ....Dental caries (tooth decay) remains a major public health problem in Australia with an economic burden in excess of $1 billion p.a. The overall aim of this project is the development of a novel remineralizing agent (casein phosphopeptide stabilized amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate) for the remineralization of early tooth decay lesions (white spot lesions). The project will involve the testing of the ability of the novel remineralization system to remineralize (repair) white spot lesions in vitro and in situ. The project also involves the detailed characterization of the molecular interactions of the components of the remineralizing system using NMR spectroscopy and other techniques. It is anticipated that this project will result in the development of a system with substantialy superior properties for the non-invasive treatment (reversal) of white spot lesions and may ultimately lead to the development of a novel system for the treatment and prevention of tooth decay.Read moreRead less
Polymicrobial Interactions In A Biofilm Of Periodontopathic Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,517.00
Summary
Chronic periodontitis is a bacterial-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. Three bacterial species in a biofilm (dental plaque) have been closely associated with chronic periodontitis in human ....Chronic periodontitis is a bacterial-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. Three bacterial species in a biofilm (dental plaque) have been closely associated with chronic periodontitis in humans and a fourth bacterial species has been suggested to assist colonisation of the biofilm by the three pathogenic species. The aim of this project is to use DNA microarray and proteomic techniques to study the interaction of the four bacterial species grown together in a polymicrobial biofilm. In particular genes of two of the pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola, important for biofilm formation and virulence in an animal model will be identified. This information will provide insight into the molecular processes of dental plaque formation and therfore molecular targets for the development of specific inhibitors that may have utility in the treatment and prevention of chronic periodontitis.Read moreRead less
Chronic periodontitis is a bacterial-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. The bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis has been identified as a major pathogen in the development of chronic periodontitis. We have identified and characterised a major virulence factor of P. gingivalis; a complex of proteins whic ....Chronic periodontitis is a bacterial-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. The bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis has been identified as a major pathogen in the development of chronic periodontitis. We have identified and characterised a major virulence factor of P. gingivalis; a complex of proteins which is involved in binding and destruction of host tissue. We have shown that this protein complex when used as a vaccine protects against P. gingivalis induced disease in animal periodontitis models. We have identified the regions (peptides) of the protein complex that allow the bacteria to bind to host tissue and blood proteins and these and other complex-related peptides when used as vaccines reduced disease in animal models. Recently, a consortium involving T.denticola, T.forsythia and P.gingivalis has been closely associated with the development of periodontitis in humans. We have shown that a mixture of these bacteria have greater pathogenicity in an animal periodontitis model than any one bacterium individually at the same total dose. The aim of this project is to identify epitopes in T. denticola and T. forsythia and to combine them with those of P. gingivalis into a multipathogen vaccine using techniques we have patented. The efficacy of the multipathogen vaccine to produce an immume response which is effective against the three bacteria will be investigated. The significance of this work is that we will produce a fully synthetic vaccine that may have utility in the prevention of periodontitis and the platform technology developed may have utility for a range of diseases associated with multiple bacterial pathogens.Read moreRead less