Aspects of adherence of oral spirochetes.
Oral spirochetes are present in the oral cavity in various numbers and forms and have been strongly implicated as playing a role in the etiology of periodontal disease. Because adherence to host tissues is a critical first step in establishing a bacterial infection, reports on the attachment of oral spirochetes to host tissues and matrix components were reviewed. The great bulk of the literature concerns Treponema denticola; however, where there is information regarding other oral spirochete species, it will be noted.
Thomas
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Department of Periodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284, USA.
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000382:microbiology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D014208:Treponema / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins