New approaches to combat Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilms

Evelien Gerits; Natalie Verstraeten; Jan Michiels

doi:10.1080/20002297.2017.1300366

New approaches to combat Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilms

J Oral Microbiol. 2017 Mar 15;9(1):1300366. doi: 10.1080/20002297.2017.1300366. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Evelien Gerits¹, Natalie Verstraeten¹, Jan Michiels¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Leuven, Belgium.

Abstract

In nature, bacteria predominantly reside in structured, surface-attached communities embedded in a self-produced, extracellular matrix. These so-called biofilms play an important role in the development and pathogenesis of many infections, as they are difficult to eradicate due to their resistance to antimicrobials and host defense mechanisms. This review focusses on the biofilm-forming periodontal bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis. Current knowledge on the virulence mechanisms underlying P. gingivalis biofilm formation is presented. In addition, oral infectious diseases in which P. gingivalis plays a key role are described, and an overview of conventional and new therapies for combating P. gingivalis biofilms is given. More insight into this intriguing pathogen might direct the development of better strategies to combat oral infections.

Keywords: Porphyromonas gingivalis; biofilms; new antibacterial agents.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Industrial Research Fund of KU Leuven [IOF/KP/11/007]; Research Foundation – Flanders FWO [G.0413.10]; European Commission’s Seventh Framework Program [COATIM (project no. 278425)]; Research Foundation – Flanders FWO [G0B2515N]; Interuniversity Attraction Poles Program initiated by the Belgian Science Policy Office [P7/28]; and Research Foundation – Flanders FWO [G.0471.12N].