title: Periodontal bacterial invasion and infection: contribution to atherosclerotic pathology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this review was to perform a systematic evaluation of the literature reporting current scientific evidence for periodontal bacteria as contributors to atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature from epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies concerning periodontal bacteria and atherosclerosis were reviewed. Gathered data were categorized into seven "proofs" of evidence that periodontal bacteria: 1) disseminate from the oral cavity and reach systemic vascular tissues; 2) can be found in the affected tissues; 3) live within the affected site; 4) invade affected cell types in vitro; 5) induce atherosclerosis in animal models of disease; 6) non-invasive mutants of periodontal bacteria cause significantly reduced pathology in vitro and in vivo; and 7) periodontal isolates from human atheromas can cause disease in animal models of infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Substantial evidence for proofs 1 to 6 was found. However, proof 7 has not yet been fulfilled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the lack of evidence that periodontal bacteria obtained from human atheromas can cause atherosclerosis in animal models of infection, attainment of proofs 1 to 6 provides support that periodontal pathogens can contribute to atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry and Center for Molecular Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0424, USA.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kozarov
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roldán
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Progulske-Fox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis; D001419:Bacteria; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification