Investigating the role of novel transcriptional regulator of oral Spirochete in the process of dysbiosis

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24155
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Dental College
• Principal Investigator: Yamashita Keiko 東京歯科大学, 歯学部, レジデント (50843538)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 歯周病 / 歯周病原細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Treponema denticola is one of the predominant bacteria in deep periodontal pockets. T. denticola has various virulence factors, such as major outer sheath protein (Msp). At the beginning of this research, we hypothesized that a DNA binding protein, which gene coding for this protein was significantly upregulated in the Msp gene deletion mutant, regulate the expression of Msp.
To assess the functional role of the protein, we constructed, for the first time, T. denticola gene deletion mutant of the gene coding for the DNA binding protein. Contrary to our expectations, the gene coding for the DNA binding protein did not play a direct role in the regulation of msp or other genes coding for virulence factors. However, it was suggested that the DNA binding protein plays a certain role in the regulation of the genes implicated in the motility of T. denticola and knockout of this gene affects the moving pattern of this bacteria.

Free Research Field

微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，歯周病原細菌の一種であるTreponema denticola の機能未知遺伝子が，本菌の運動性の調節に関わることを明らかにした。
T. denticola は鞭毛による活発な運動を特徴としており，組織内への侵入や栄養の獲得に，運動性の調節は重要な役割を果たす。この成果は，歯周炎の発症・進展の仕組みの解明や，細菌因子の制御を目的とした新たな治療ターゲットの発見に繋がる可能性がある。