This K08 application plans to study the regulation of fimbriae in the gram negative oral pathogen, P. gingival is. This putative period onto pathogen has been studied extensively and a large number of virulence factors have been determined. However, few if any of them have been observed to function in vivo. The fimbriae of P. gingival is are considered to be a structural virulence factor since loss of these structures results in poor to no adherence the bacterium to host cells. Since the ability of a bacterium to adhere to host cells is an essential first step in host-associated bacterial virulence, loss of this function is critical to survival or the health and well being of the host. The structural gene for fimbrillin, the subunit protein which forms the fimbriae structure, has been cloned and sequenced from nine P. gingival is strains. In addition to the genetic studies, the fimbriae from this bacterium have been extensively studied immunologically, chemically and structurally.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
7K08DE000401-04
Application #
6205446
Study Section
NIDCR Special Grants Review Committee (DSR)
Project Start
1997-05-01
Project End
2002-04-30
Budget Start
2000-01-01
Budget End
2000-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Meharry Medical College
Department
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37208
Xie, Hua; Kozlova, Natalia; Lamont, Richard J (2004) Porphyromonas gingivalis genes involved in fimA regulation. Infect Immun 72:651-8
Xie, H; Cook, G S; Costerton, J W et al. (2000) Intergeneric communication in dental plaque biofilms. J Bacteriol 182:7067-9
Xie, H; Chung, W O; Park, Y et al. (2000) Regulation of the Porphyromonas gingivalis fimA (Fimbrillin) gene. Infect Immun 68:6574-9
Xie, H; Lamont, R J (1999) Promoter architecture of the Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbrillin gene. Infect Immun 67:3227-35