Polymicrobial interactions in a biofilm of periodontopathic bacteria

慢性牙周炎是一种牙齿支撑组织的细菌相关炎症性疾病，它会导致牙齿支撑的破坏，最终导致牙齿脱落。该病是一个重大的公共卫生问题，具有巨大的经济负担，并与心血管疾病、早产和低出生体重的风险增加有关。生物膜（牙菌斑）中的三种细菌与人类慢性牙周炎密切相关，第四种细菌被认为有助于三种致病细菌在生物膜上定植。该项目的目的是利用DNA微阵列和蛋白质组学技术来研究四种细菌在多微生物生物膜中共同生长的相互作用。特别是两种病原体的基因，牙龈卟啉单胞菌和牙齿密螺旋体，在动物模型中对生物膜的形成和毒力很重要。这一信息将提供深入了解牙菌斑形成的分子过程，从而为开发特异性抑制剂提供分子靶点，这些抑制剂可能在治疗和预防慢性牙周炎中具有实用价值。

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.