title: Periodontal disease: bacterial virulence factors, host response and impact on systemic health.
abstract: Teeth are coated with a biofilm that contains periodontal pathogens. Pathogens express virulence factors which enable them to invade and replicate within epithelial cells and to invade the underlying connective tissue. This stimulates production of prostaglandins and cytokines that induce tissue loss. In addition, these bacteria have the potential to modulate the course of systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis and to contribute to low birthweight and preterm labor.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Periodontology and Oral Biology, bDepartment of Endodontics, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, and cDepartment of Medicine, Section of Infectious Disease, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Dana T.
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Genco