Persistence of and in dental plaque: a strategic alliance.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The Gram-negative oral pathogen is implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, an inflammatory disease characterized by progressive destruction of the tooth supporting structures affecting over 700 million people worldwide. This review highlights the basis of why and how interacts with a bacterium considered to be a bridge between the early and late colonizing bacteria of the dental plaque.

RECENT FINDINGS

The recent findings indicate that these two organisms have a strong mutualistic relationship that involves foraging by on peptidoglycan and utilization of glucose, released by the hydrolytic activity of glucanase, as a nutrient by . In addition, has the unique ability to generate a toxic and inflammogenic compound, methylglyoxal, from glucose. This compound can induce inflammation, leading to the degradation of periodontal tissues and release of host components as nutrients for bacteria to further exacerbate the disease.

SUMMARY

In summary, this article will present our current understanding of mechanisms underpinning - mutualism, and how this mutualism might impact periodontal disease progression.