In order to effectively and efficiently control periodontal diseases on an individual and a public health level, a better understanding of the specific etiology and pathogenesis of the disorders must be obtained. This proposal represents the effort of scientists experienced in oral microbiology, immunology, clinical periodontology and electron microscopy to learn more about the importance of Actinobacillus actin omycetemcomitans, Bacteroides gingivalis and Bacteroides intermedius in adult periodontitis. These organisms have been implicated in destructuve period periodontitis. However, most microbiological studies are difficult to interpret because they are cross-sectional in nature and they do not distinguish between actively progressing and healing periodontal sites. This proposal includes a longitudinal study of adult periodontitis patients aiming at (1) determining whether periodontitis patients with one or more of the 3 test bacteria demonstrate an increased incidence of periodontal breakdown than individuals with few or none of these bacteria, (2) elucidating whether systemic and local antibodies to these bacteria are diagnostic of periodontal infection and may modulate periodontal disease activity, and (3) ascertaining if bacterial invasion of the periodontal connective tissue is related to periodontal disease activity. Treated periodontitis patients (sites) with one or more of the 3 test bacteria and bacterial negative patients (sites) will be followed clinically, microbiologically and immunologically over a period of 4 1/2 years. The periodontal disease activity will be determined by changes in probing periodontal attachment level. The subgingival microflora will be determined by nonselective and selective culturing and indirect immunofluorescence. Serum, saliva and gingival crevice fluid antibodies against various bacterial antigen preparations will be assessed by ELISA. Bacterial invasion will be evaluated by light and electron microscopy using indirect immunofluorescence and colloidal-gold labeling to identify specific bacteria. Data will be analyzed by methods suitable for tested data in a repeated measures design. These studies have the potential to provide a clearer understanding of how selected host-parasite interactions can modulate the severity and course of destructive periodontitis in adults. The findings may lead to the formulation of new and more effective means of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human periodontitis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE006085-07
Application #
3219823
Study Section
Oral Biology and Medicine Study Section (OBM)
Project Start
1983-09-01
Project End
1990-06-30
Budget Start
1989-09-01
Budget End
1990-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Type
Schools of Dentistry/Oral Hygn
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Rams, T E; Listgarten, M A; Slots, J (1996) Efficacy of CPITN sextant scores for detection of periodontitis disease activity. J Clin Periodontol 23:355-61
Rams, T E; Listgarten, M A; Slots, J (1996) Utility of 5 major putative periodontal pathogens and selected clinical parameters to predict periodontal breakdown in patients on maintenance care. J Clin Periodontol 23:346-54
Nowzari, H; Slots, J (1994) Microorganisms in polytetrafluoroethylene barrier membranes for guided tissue regeneration. J Clin Periodontol 21:203-10
Flynn, M J; Li, G; Slots, J (1994) Mitsuokella dentalis in human periodontitis. Oral Microbiol Immunol 9:248-50
Lotufo, R F; Flynn, J; Chen, C et al. (1994) Molecular detection of Bacteroides forsythus in human periodontitis. Oral Microbiol Immunol 9:154-60
Chen, C; Slots, J (1994) Clonal analysis of Porphyromonas gingivalis by the arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction. Oral Microbiol Immunol 9:99-103
Rams, T E; Listgarten, M A; Slots, J (1994) Utility of radiographic crestal lamina dura for predicting periodontitis disease-activity. J Clin Periodontol 21:571-6
Slots, J; Liu, Y B; DiRienzo, J M et al. (1993) Evaluating two methods for fingerprinting genomes of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Oral Microbiol Immunol 8:337-43
Rams, T E; Oler, J; Listgarten, M A et al. (1993) Utility of Ramfjord index teeth to assess periodontal disease progression in longitudinal studies. J Clin Periodontol 20:147-50
Brook, I; Foote Jr, P A; Slots, J et al. (1993) Immune response to Prevotella intermedia in patients with recurrent nonstreptococcal tonsillitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 102:113-6

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