Identification of Porphyromonas gingivalis genes required for iron/haem acquisition and biofilm formation

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/300006

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Periodontal diseases are some of the most common bacterial diseases of humans and along with dental caries, account for approximately 90% of all tooth loss in the Australian population. A recent survey of oral health in Australia found that in the 30-34 age group over 20% of people had moderate to severe periodontal disease, indicating that periodontitis is a major public health problem. Specific bacteria, especially Porphyromonas gingivalis, that grow as bacterial biofilms (dental plaque) cause periodontal disease. In this study we will utilise the latest technology available to determine which genes of the bacterium are important for biofilm growth, iron acquisition and virulence in an animal model. We will investigate how the bacterium acquires iron, as there is usually little available iron for bacterial growth on human tissues and the ability of the bacterium to free itself from this iron limitation is associated with pathogenicity. The determination of the role of iron availability in biofilm formation and virulence of the bacterium will help us to understand the changes that occur in the initiation of disease and may allow the development of early intervention strategies. The significance of this work is that we will gain an understanding of how this bacterium functions as an opportunistic human pathogen. We will determine which genes are essential for growth as a biofilm and to produce disease in an animal model. This will enable the development of therapeutic and prophylactic interventions targeted to specific bacterial gene products required to produce disease.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $476,836.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Medical physiology not elsewhere classified

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Bacterial pathogen | Inflammation | Microarray | Oral health | Periodontal disease | Proteome analysis | Tissue damage | Tooth loss | Virulence

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