Molecular characterization of the gingipains of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/350427

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity 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 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.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2005

End Date: 01-01-2007

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $394,000.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Dentistry

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Cell surface attachment | Chronic inflammation | Gingival bleeding | Gram-negative pathogen | Periodontal pathogen | Periodontitis | Protein modification | Protein secretion | Proteolytic processing | Virulence factor

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