title: Molecular pathogenesis of the cell surface proteins and lipids from Treponema denticola.
abstract: Treponema denticola, frequently isolated from the human oral cavity, is thought to be a major pathogen of human periodontal disease. Recent developments in molecular analysis have clarified the surface structure of this microorganism and the characteristics of its pathogenic factors. Structural analysis of the outer sheath showed T. denticola to have a new type of outer membrane lipid. Limited exposure of the major outer sheath protein is suggested by electron-microscopic analysis. A protease-deficient mutant has revealed the roles of the protease in the organization of the outer sheath material and in T. denticola pathogenicity. The surface features that contribute to the pathogenicity of T. denticola in periodontal disease are gradually being elucidated, and are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Oral Health Science Center, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba, Japan. ishihara@tdc.ac.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okuda
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D018272:Porins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D014208:Treponema / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D008055:Lipids; D018272:Porins; C099361:major outer sheath protein, Treponema; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; C102570:dentilisin; D002918:Chymotrypsin