Role for fimbriae in Porphyromonas gulae invasion of oral epithelial cells

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19266
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57070:Developmental dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Sho 岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 助教 (40801048)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 歯周病原菌 / 線毛 / fimA / 歯肉上皮細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Porphyromonas gulae strains, classified into three genotypes (A, B, C) based on the diversity of fimA genes, were compared their human epithelial cells adhesion/invasion ability each other. We have shown the relation between invasion ability and fimA genotypes of P. gulae. And by using inhibitors suppress specific functions of the host cells, we have investigated the host cell adhesion/invasion routes of P. gulae. Furthermore we prepared fimA knockout P. gulae strain to evaluate pathogenesis of the fimbriae. The mutant strain based on P. gulae D049 has type C fimA gene was constructed by insertion erythromycin cassette into the fimA gene. The mutant strain will be used to investigate details of fimbriae pathogenesis.

Free Research Field

歯周病原菌

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

動物由来歯周病原菌 Porphyromonas gulae は伴侶動物を飼育する歯周病患者の病変部プラークから高頻度で検出され、歯周病は動物由来の P. gulae 感染による人獣共通感染症である可能性が考えられ始めている。本研究により P. gulae のヒト歯肉上皮細胞への感染経路が解析され、併せて線毛の歯周病発症における役割を解明した。これらの成果をもとに P. gulae 感染と歯周病発症の関連性が明らかとなり、人獣共通感染症としての歯周疾患の治療法・予防法開発へと繋げる狙いがある。