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Development Of Bar-Peptide Nanoparticles And Electrospun Fibers For The Prevention And Treatment Of Oral Biofilms., Mohamed Yehia Mahmoud May 2019

Development Of Bar-Peptide Nanoparticles And Electrospun Fibers For The Prevention And Treatment Of Oral Biofilms., Mohamed Yehia Mahmoud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Periodontal diseases are globally prevalent inflammatory disorders that affect ~47% of U.S adults. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) has been identified as a “keystone” pathogen that disrupts host-microbe homeostasis and contributes to the initiation and progression of periodontitis. Pg associates with oral streptococci in supragingival plaque and this interaction represents a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Previously our group developed a peptide (designated BAR), that potently inhibits Pg/Streptococcus gordonii (Sg) adherence in vitro and Pg virulence in a murine model of periodontitis. While efficacious, BAR (SspB Adherence Region) provided transient inhibition and required higher concentrations of BAR to disrupt established …


The Role Of Kinases And Phosphatases In The Pathobiology Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Sarah Whitmore Dec 2017

The Role Of Kinases And Phosphatases In The Pathobiology Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Sarah Whitmore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal diseases result from the interplay between the dysregulation of the host inflammatory response and the actions of a dysbiotic bacterial community. These chronic inflammatory conditions affect persons on a worldwide scale. P. gingivalis is strongly implicated as a key periodontal pathogen in the more severe manifestations of periodontal diseases such as periodontitis. A core element of P. gingivalis pathogenicity is its dysregulation of innate immunity, including suppression of IL-8 production by gingival epithelial cells. The NF-κB family of related transcription factors plays a central role in regulating many important aspects of innate immune responses. NF-κB RelA/p65 homodimers regulate transcription …


Exploring A Novel Nf-ĸb- Inhibiting Nanoparticle For Periodontitis Therapy., Kameswara Satya Srikanth Upadhyayula May 2017

Exploring A Novel Nf-ĸb- Inhibiting Nanoparticle For Periodontitis Therapy., Kameswara Satya Srikanth Upadhyayula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontitis is an infection-driven inflammatory disease characterized by gingival inflammation and bone loss. The NF-ĸB signaling pathway is pivotal in osteoclastogenesis and infection-induced pro-inflammatory responses. The use of nanoparticles as a vehicle to deliver drug increases stability, loading capacity, and facilitates transmembrane transportation. The hypothesis was that a novel nanoparticle carrying therapeutic NBD inhibitory peptides (NBD-nanoparticles) will inhibit measures of periodontal disease. In this project, we tested the nanoparticles for their ability to directly inhibit osteoclastogenesis and inflammation as an original strategy for periodontitis therapy. We also tested the capability of the nanoparticles to inhibit gingival inflammation and alveolar bone …


Filifactor Alocis, A Newly Appreciated Oral Pathogen, Fails To Induce The Respiratory Burst Response Of Human Neutrophils., Jacob S. Edmisson May 2016

Filifactor Alocis, A Newly Appreciated Oral Pathogen, Fails To Induce The Respiratory Burst Response Of Human Neutrophils., Jacob S. Edmisson

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses

Almost 50% of adult Americans suffer from periodontitis which is a bacterially induced inflammation of the tissue that surround and support the tooth. The accumulation of neutrophils, a critical cell component of the innate immune system, in the gingival crevice contributes to tissue damage. Filifactor alocis is a newly appreciated pathogen present in oral biofilms at periodontal disease sites. Studying the interactions between neutrophils and F. alocis will provide valuable information for delineating the role of this bacterium in periodontal disease and enhance our understanding of bacterial strategies to evade leukocytes’ antimicrobial mechanisms. The hypothesis that F. alocis modulates human …


Peptide Mediated Inhibition Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Dual And Three Species Biofilms., Naga Srinija Gummadi Dec 2013

Peptide Mediated Inhibition Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Dual And Three Species Biofilms., Naga Srinija Gummadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The colonization of Porphyromonas gingivalis is the key phase in transformation of bacterial biofilm from a commensal plaque to pathogenic form observed in periodontitis. Objectives: The goals of this study are to establish optimum levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus gordonii and Fusobacterium nucleatum to reproducibly generate dual and three species biofilms and examine inhibition of biofilm formation by BAR peptide and BAR analogs C1-24 R1182 I1185 BAR, R1182 I1185 BAR and C1-24 BAR. Methods: S. gordonii was grown in BHIY media; P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum were grown in TSBY and BHI media respectively supplemented with hemin and menadione. Labeled …


Identifying Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans Periodontal Antigens By Immunoscreening., Gerald Bernard Pevow May 2012

Identifying Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans Periodontal Antigens By Immunoscreening., Gerald Bernard Pevow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontitis is a chronic, destructive inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth with a high prevalence among adults. While the complete pathogenesis of periodontitis remains unclear, it is initiated and sustained by dental plaque containing pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus, and Prevotella intermedia. Our hypothesis is that multiple antigens are recognized by human antibodies, and antigens can be identified by use of a genomic expression library. We developed an unbiased global approach to define A. actinomycetemcomitans protein antigens that elicit humoral immune responses and developed a screening method to identify periodontal antigens. We identified …