title: Attenuation of Porphyromonas gingivalis oral infection by α-amylase and pentamidine.
abstract: The Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterium is one of the most influential pathogens in oral infections. In the current study, the antimicrobial activity of α-amylase and pentamidine against Porphyromonas gingivalis was evaluated. Their in vitro inhibitory activity was investigated with the agar overlay technique, and the minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were determined. Using the bactericidal concentration, the antimicrobial actions of the inhibitors were investigated. In the present study, multiple techniques were utilized, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), general structural analysis and differential gene expression analysis. The results obtained from SEM and bactericidal analysis indicated a notable observation; the pentamidine and α-amylase treatment destroyed the structure of the bacterial cell membranes, which led to cell death. These results were used to further explore these inhibitors and the mechanisms by which they act. Downregulated expression levels were observed for a number of genes coding for hemagglutinins and gingipains, and various genes involved in hemin uptake, chromosome replication and energy production. However, the expression levels of genes associated with iron storage and oxidative stress were upregulated by α-amylase and pentamidine. A greater effect was noted in response to pentamidine treatment. The results of the present study demonstrate promising therapeutic potential for α-amylases and pentamidine. These molecules have the potential to be used to develop novel drugs and broaden the availability of pharmacological tools for the attenuation of oral infections caused by Porphyromonas gingivalis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Science, Guangzhou Chest Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu-Song
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xi-Ting
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shao-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D010419:Pentamidine; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases