Open AccessAggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans – A Tooth Killer?
Author(s) -
Manoj Raja
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of clinical and diagnostic research
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-782X
pISSN - 0973-709X
DOI - 10.7860/jcdr/2014/9845.4766
Subject(s) - aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , organism , proteases , biology , fimbria , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence , connective tissue , microvesicles , periodontitis , in vivo , immunology , porphyromonas gingivalis , bacteria , gene , medicine , genetics , enzyme , microrna , biochemistry
Strong evidence is available on Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a) on its role as the causative agent of localised juvenile periodontitis (LJP), a disease characterised by rapid destruction of the tooth-supporting tissues. This organism possesses a large number of virulence factors with a wide range of activities which enable it to colonise the oral cavity, invade periodontal tissues, evade host defences, initiate connective tissue destruction and interfere with tissue repair. Adhesion to epithelial and tooth surfaces is dependent on the presence of surface proteins and structures such as microvesicles and fimbriae. Invasion has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. The organism has a number of means of evading host defences which include: (i) production of leukotoxin; (ii) producing immunosuppressive factors; (iv) secreting proteases capable of cleaving IgG; and (v) producing Fc-binding.