Periodontitis: a polymicrobial disruption of host homeostasis.
Periodontitis, or gum disease, affects millions of people each year. Although it is associated with a defined microbial composition found on the surface of the tooth and tooth root, the contribution of bacteria to disease progression is poorly understood. Commensal bacteria probably induce a protective response that prevents the host from developing disease. However, several bacterial species found in plaque (the 'red-complex' bacteria: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola) use various mechanisms to interfere with host defence mechanisms. Furthermore, disease may result from 'community-based' attack on the host. Here, I describe the interaction of the host immune system with the oral bacteria in healthy states and in diseased states.
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. rdarveau@u.washington.edu
Richard P
RP
Darveau
D000818:Animals; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms; D006801:Humans; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D010519:Periodontium / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000502:physiology; D048373:Treponema denticola / Q000502:physiology