Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Brissette, C. A.
• Simonson, L. G.
• Lukehart, S. A.

Titel

Resistance to human β-defensins is common among oral treponemes

Ist Teil von

• Oral microbiology and immunology, 2004-12, Vol.19 (6), p.403-407

Ort / Verlag

Oxford, UK: Munksgaard International Publishers

Erscheinungsjahr

2004

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background/aims:  Oral treponemes are implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. We have previously shown that Treponema denticola ATCC type strains and strain GM‐1 are resistant to killing by human β‐defensins (hβD)‐1 and ‐2. We hypothesize that resistance to β‐defensins is a common feature of oral treponemes, which allows colonization and persistence in the oral cavity. In this study, we tested additional isolates of T. denticola, as well as six other species of treponemes, for resistance to hβD‐1, ‐2 and ‐3. We also examined the four ATCC strains of T. denticola and strain GM‐1 for resistance to hβD‐3. Methods:  Resistance was determined by motility and Alamar Blue assays for metabolic activity. Results:  All T. denticola strains tested were resistant to hβD‐1, ‐2 and ‐3, with the exception of strain Ambigua, which was sensitive to hβD‐2 and ‐3. All other treponemes except Treponema vincentii were resistant to hβD‐1. Treponema pectinovorum was sensitive to hβD‐2, while T. vincentii, T. pectinovorum and Treponema maltophilum were sensitive to hβD‐3. Escherichia coli was used as a control organism and was killed by all three defensins. Conclusion:  Resistance to the constitutively expressed hβD‐1 may assist treponemes in initial colonization of epithelial surfaces, while resistance to the inducible hβD‐2 and ‐3 would allow some treponemes to survive in active periodontal lesions.