Biomaterial Database

The potential role of bacteria and their antigens in periodontal disease. 1976

K W Knox

The inflammatory changes typical of periodontal disease are believed to involve immunological reactions, with bacteria being a potential source of the antigens inducing these reactions, with bacteria being a potential source of the antigens inducing these reactions. Various investigators have studied the ability of specific organisms to induce tissue changes in experimental animals, while others have examined human sera and tissues for the presence of antibodies reacting with particular organisms or their isolated antigens. The significance of these results is assessed, particularly with respect to the problem of antibody cross-reactivity. The antigens that could be involved in periodontal disease are discussed in terms of the difference in structure of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cells, with attention being drawn to those components that could occur extracellularly and thus diffuse into oral tissues. The antigen most studied is the lipopolysaccharide or endotoxin of Gram-negative cells which, through the mediation of complement, is a potential inflammatory agent.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008070	Lipopolysaccharides	Lipid-containing polysaccharides which are endotoxins and important group-specific antigens. They are often derived from the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and induce immunoglobulin secretion. The lipopolysaccharide molecule consists of three parts: LIPID A, core polysaccharide, and O-specific chains (O ANTIGENS). When derived from Escherichia coli, lipopolysaccharides serve as polyclonal B-cell mitogens commonly used in laboratory immunology. (From Dorland, 28th ed)	Lipopolysaccharide,Lipoglycans
D009055	Mouth	The oval-shaped oral cavity located at the apex of the digestive tract and consisting of two parts: the vestibule and the oral cavity proper.	Oral Cavity,Cavitas Oris,Cavitas oris propria,Mouth Cavity Proper,Oral Cavity Proper,Vestibule Oris,Vestibule of the Mouth,Cavity, Oral
D010510	Periodontal Diseases	Pathological processes involving the PERIODONTIUM including the gum (GINGIVA), the alveolar bone (ALVEOLAR PROCESS), the DENTAL CEMENTUM, and the PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT.	Parodontosis,Pyorrhea Alveolaris,Disease, Periodontal,Diseases, Periodontal,Parodontoses,Periodontal Disease
D011135	Polysaccharides, Bacterial	Polysaccharides found in bacteria and in capsules thereof.	Bacterial Polysaccharides
D002473	Cell Wall	The outermost layer of a cell in most PLANTS; BACTERIA; FUNGI; and ALGAE. The cell wall is usually a rigid structure that lies external to the CELL MEMBRANE, and provides a protective barrier against physical or chemical agents.	Cell Walls,Wall, Cell,Walls, Cell
D004195	Disease Models, Animal	Naturally-occurring or experimentally-induced animal diseases with pathological processes analogous to human diseases.	Animal Disease Model,Animal Disease Models,Disease Model, Animal
D004731	Endotoxins	Toxins closely associated with the living cytoplasm or cell wall of certain microorganisms, which do not readily diffuse into the culture medium, but are released upon lysis of the cells.	Endotoxin
D005856	Germ-Free Life	Animals not contaminated by or associated with any foreign organisms.	Axenic Animals,Gnotobiotics,Germfree Life,Animal, Axenic,Animals, Axenic,Axenic Animal,Germ Free Life,Gnotobiotic,Life, Germ-Free,Life, Germfree
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000268	Adhesiveness	A property of the surface of an object that makes it stick to another surface.	Adhesivenesses