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The polymicrobial pathogenicity of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Richard J Lamont1, Masae Kuboniwa2

  • 1Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States.

Frontiers in Oral Health
|May 13, 2024
PubMed

Insights

The oral microbiome functions as a community where species communicate through various means, influencing virulence. Porphyromonas gingivalis

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Oral Health
  • Microbial Ecology

Background:

  • The oral microbiota is a complex, functionally integrated polymicrobial community.
  • Interspecies communication significantly drives emergent properties within oral microbial communities.
  • Porphyromonas gingivalis, a known periodontal pathogen, exhibits virulence primarily within a polymicrobial context.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanisms of interspecies communication in the oral microbiome.
  • To understand how Porphyromonas gingivalis interacts with other oral species.
  • To explore the role of microbial interactions in periodontal disease pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro and in vivo mechanistic studies.
  • Analysis of microbiome data.
  • Investigation of fimbriae-mediated attachment and transcriptional responses.
  • Assessment of responses to small molecules and nutritional cues.

Main Results:

  • Multivalent fimbriae of P. gingivalis mediate attachment to other oral species, altering transcriptional programs.
  • P. gingivalis responds to small molecules and nutritional signals from partner organisms.
  • Physiological interdependence creates complex networks resembling an organismal entity.

Conclusions:

  • Interspecies communication is crucial for the function and pathogenic potential of oral microbial communities.
  • P. gingivalis' virulence is context-dependent, relying on interactions within the polymicrobial community.
  • Oral microbial communities exhibit emergent properties and physiological interdependence.
Keywords:
biofilmcommunityinterspecies communicationnutritional integrationperiodontal

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