Novel genotypic analysis of fimbriae in the periodontal pathogenic bacterium P. gingivalis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K21050
• 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: Aichi Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Sakae Kotaro 愛知学院大学, 歯学部, 歯学部研究員 (60962818)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Porphyromonas gingivalis / 線毛 / 遺伝子型 / 歯周病

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis possesses FimA and Mfa1 fimbriae. The genes coding for these fimbrial components exhibit diversity. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between the diversity of P. gingivalis fimbrial factors and pathogenicity by: 1) developing a method for genotyping all fimbrial components, 2) investigating the correlation between fimbrial genotypes and clinical symptoms in periodontal disease, and 3) analyzing the relationship between fimbrial function and genotypes. As a result of the third objective, we identified 134 candidate proteins that bind to FimA fimbriae.

Free Research Field

口腔微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

歯周病原細菌Porphyromonas gingivalisの持つ付着因子であるMfa1線毛の主要成分mfa1遺伝子型をPCRにより分類する手法を考案した。今後は、mfa1遺伝子型と病原性との関連を調査したい。本方法の開発は、患者のプラーク中に生息するP.gingivalis線毛遺伝子型を判定し、病原性判定や予後の推定への利用を可能とする。