title: Heterogeneity of Porphyromonas gingivalis strains in the induction of alveolar bone loss in mice.
abstract: These experiments examine alveolar bone loss in a model in which specific pathogen-free mice are exposed orally with Porphyromonas gingivalis. Alveolar bone loss was induced as a result of a specific infection with P. gingivalis, rather than other environmental antigens. Infection with live P. gingivalis was required, as significant bone loss did not follow gavage with formalin-killed P. gingivalis. The virulence of different strains of P. gingivalis was compared. Two laboratory strains of the bacteria (ATCC 53977 and W50) and a mutant strain lacking the 43-kDa fimbrillin (strain DPG3) induced bone loss. P. gingivalis 381, however, did not induce bone loss. There was a strong immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response to infection with each strain but a significant serum IgA response only to strain 381. These studies show that in mice with a background oral microflora bone loss is induced by a specific infection with P. gingivalis and that bacterial strain variation is important in determining whether alveolar bone loss will ensue.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Roopenian
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C063055:fimbrillin; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins