title: Polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis in inflammatory disease.
abstract: Uncontrolled inflammation of the periodontal area may arise when complex microbial communities transition from a commensal to a pathogenic entity. Communication among constituent species leads to polymicrobial synergy between metabolically compatible organisms that acquire functional specialization within the developing community. Keystone pathogens, even at low abundance, elevate community virulence, and the resulting dysbiotic community targets specific aspects of host immunity to further disable immune surveillance while promoting an overall inflammatory response. Inflammophilic organisms benefit from proteinaceous substrates derived from inflammatory tissue breakdown. Inflammation and dysbiosis reinforce each other, and the escalating environmental changes further select for a pathobiotic community. We have synthesized the polymicrobial synergy and dysbiotic components of the process into a new model for inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA. Electronic address: rich.lamont@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Penn Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: geoh@upenn.edu.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hajishengallis
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D064806:Dysbiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D056265:Microbial Interactions