Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Robust Ligature-Induced Model of Murine Periodontitis for the Evaluation of Oral Neutrophils
Published on: January 21, 2020
Gene polymorphisms and the prevalence of key periodontal pathogens
L Nibali1, D R Ready, M Parkar
1Periodontology Unit, Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London (UCL), London, UK.
Abstract:
Growing evidence suggests that individual genetic susceptibility may influence the host's response to infections. The aim of this project was to study whether gene polymorphisms of inflammatory markers are associated with the presence of viable periodontopathogenic bacteria. We extracted genomic DNA from 45 young adults diagnosed with generalized aggressive periodontitis to study Fc receptors, formyl peptide receptor, Interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and vitamin D receptor polymorphisms. The presence and viable numbers of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Tannerella forsythensis were determined by culture, and their identities confirmed by PCR. Multiple logistic regressions revealed that both Fcgamma receptor and IL-6 -174 polymorphisms were associated with increased odds of detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, and T. forsythensis after adjustment for age, ethnicity, smoking, and periodontitis extent. These findings support the hypothesis that complex interactions between the microbiota and host genome may be at the basis of susceptibility to aggressive periodontitis.
Related Concept Videos
The Oral Microbiota
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants
Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview
