Molecular Signaling Mechanisms of the Periopathogen, Treponema denticola

• Published in: Journal of dental research Vol. 90; no. 10; pp. 1155 - 1163
• Main Authors: Frederick, J.R., Sarkar, J., McDowell, J.V., Marconi, R.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.2011; International Association for Dental Research
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclic GMP - analogs & derivatives; Cyclic GMP - physiology; Dentistry; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases - genetics; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Histidine Kinase; Humans; Medical sciences; Mouth. Exocrine and endocrine salivary glands. Teeth. Esophagus; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Periodontal Pocket - microbiology; Protein Kinases - genetics; Reviews; Sigma Factor - genetics; Signal Transduction - genetics; Treponema denticola - genetics; Treponema denticola - physiology; Vertebrates: digestive system; two-component regulatory systems; c-di-GMP; AtcRS; Rrp2; Hpk2; treponemes; Human; Treponema denticola; Spirochaetales; Nucleotide sequence; Stomatology; Regulatory protein; Review; Periodontal pocket; Oral cavity; Signal transduction; Periodontal disease; Bacteria; Treponemataceae; Gingiva; Adaptation
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/0022034511402994

In the healthy subgingiva, oral treponemes account for a small percentage of the total bacteria. However, in diseased periodontal pockets, treponemes thrive and become a dominant component of the bacterial population. Oral treponemes are uniquely adept at capitalizing on the environmental conditions that develop with periodontal disease. The molecular basis of adaptive responses of oral treponemes is just beginning to be investigated and defined. The completion of several treponeme genome sequences and the characterization of global regulatory systems provide an important starting point in the analysis of signaling and adaptive responses. In this review, we discuss existing literature focused on the genetic regulatory mechanisms of Treponema denticola and present an overview of the possible roles of regulatory proteins identified through genome analyses. This information provides insight into the possible molecular mechanisms utilized by oral spirochetes to survive in the periodontal pocket and transition from a minor to a dominant organism.