Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Medicine and Health Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 15 of 15

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Genetically Engineering Gingipains For High Yield Large Scale Purification., Andrew E. Fuchs Dec 2023

Genetically Engineering Gingipains For High Yield Large Scale Purification., Andrew E. Fuchs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone oral pathogen in the progression of periodontal disease and has been implicated in the etiology of many other systemic human diseases. P. gingivalis produces primary virulence factors termed the gingipains, a group of cysteine proteases. There is a high demand for high purity gingipains for downstream in vitro studies where P.g. is implicated, both oral and systemic. Gingipain production candidate mutant P.g. strains were generated to isolate each gingipain for large scale purification and the purified gingipains characterized. Two mutants were determined not to be viable for large scale purification of gingipains, each for different …


Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Ethanol, And Chronic Diseases., Nicholas Alan Short May 2022

Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Ethanol, And Chronic Diseases., Nicholas Alan Short

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an investigation into the relationships among Porphyromonas gingivalis, ethanol, and a series of chronic diseases, focusing primarily on atherosclerosis. It uses evolutionary theory to understand clinical parameters related to chronic disease biology. The initial research question was, "If people who drink a glass of wine each day have a lower risk for atherosclerosis, could one explanation involve antibacterial effects on pathogens associated with causing atherosclerosis, namely, Porphyromonas gingivalis?". This dissertation is divided into four chapters. Chapter One provides the foundational information pertinent to the dissertation. Chapter Two describes an in- vitro experiment aimed at understanding …


Functionalizing Nanoparticles With Cafa Protein To Target Bar Peptide For Oral Delivery Applications., Hetal Desai May 2020

Functionalizing Nanoparticles With Cafa Protein To Target Bar Peptide For Oral Delivery Applications., Hetal Desai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis adherence to Streptococcus gordonii may be important for P. gingivalis colonization in the oral cavity. Nanoparticles encapsulating synthetic peptide BAR (BAR-NPs) inhibit P. gingivalis adherence more potently than free BAR. However, BAR-NPs would exhibit low retention in an open flow environment. Hypothesis: Targeting BAR-NPs to the streptococcal surface using CafA protein will enhance their efficacy. Methods: CafA-modified NPs encapsulating BAR were synthesized using double emulsion approach. Surface binding and retention, and release kinetics of BAR from CafA-modified NPs was assessed. Functional inhibition assays were performed using dual a species biofilm. Results: CafA-modified NPs demonstrated specificity of adhesion, …


Synthesis And Characterization Of Targeted Bar Encapsulated Polylactic-Co-Glycolic Acid Nanoparticles To Inhibit Porphyromonas Gingivalis Biofilm Formation., Ranjith Radha Krishnan Dec 2018

Synthesis And Characterization Of Targeted Bar Encapsulated Polylactic-Co-Glycolic Acid Nanoparticles To Inhibit Porphyromonas Gingivalis Biofilm Formation., Ranjith Radha Krishnan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide. Between 30-50% of the global adult population suffers from periodontal disease. Some form of periodontitis is present in 46% of American adults, corresponding to annual expenditures in excess of 14 billion dollars for treatment and prevention. Current treatments for periodontal diseases involve mechanical removal of plaque, correction of risk factors, gingival surgery and/or antibiotic therapy. To our knowledge there is no effective therapeutic approach that aims to limit pathogen colonization of the oral biofilm or re-colonization after treatment. Interaction of the pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis with oral streptococci is critical …


Influences Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis On The Viability Of Esophageal Cancer Cells., Muddasir Mohammed Dec 2018

Influences Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis On The Viability Of Esophageal Cancer Cells., Muddasir Mohammed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A recent study demonstrated an association between the Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg)infection and the progression of ESCC (Gao et al., 2016). However, how Pg infection affects the nature of ESCC remains unknown. We examined the effects of Pg on the proliferation and chemotherapy drug-induced apoptosis of ESCC cells and elucidated the signaling molecules involved in these processes. Method: Apoptosis and cell proliferation were tested using Flow cytometry and Tetrazolium salt based proliferation assays respectively. Western Blot was utilized to detect the protein expression. CDK2 and Cyclin E were knocked down in the ESCC cells through transfection. Unpaired T-test and …


Development Of Blended Polymeric Fibers To Alter The Release Of Peptide Targeting Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Sonali Suresh Sapare May 2018

Development Of Blended Polymeric Fibers To Alter The Release Of Peptide Targeting Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Sonali Suresh Sapare

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that infects the tissues of the periodontium. It is estimated that 47.2% or 67.2 million American adults suffer from mild, moderate and severe periodontitis. Globally, 30-50% of the adult population is afflicted with periodontal disease, making it one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in the world. Therapeutics targeting P. gingivalis may be effective to alter periodontitis progression. However, the current treatment modalities that target critical pathogens to maintain host-biofilm homeostasis are limited, urging the development of specifically targeted therapeutics to limit P. gingivalis recolonization of the oral cavity after periodontal treatment and healing. …


Type Ix Secretion System : Characterization Of An Effector Protein And An Insight Into The Role Of C-Terminal Domain Dimeration In Outer Membrane Translocation., Lahari Koneru Dec 2017

Type Ix Secretion System : Characterization Of An Effector Protein And An Insight Into The Role Of C-Terminal Domain Dimeration In Outer Membrane Translocation., Lahari Koneru

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia are two of the primary pathogens that are associated in the etiology and progression of chronic periodontitis. In T. forsythia, KLIKK proteases are the recently identified group of proteolytic enzymes that are secreted through Type IX secretion system (T9SS). Among, these KLIKK proteases a synergistic relationship was observed between karilysin and mirolysin in invading the host complement system for the survival of the bacteria. Since, karilysin has been already characterized, in this study we propose to study about mirolysin through structural, biochemical and biological characterization. The obtained results from the experiments has shown the …


Inhibition Of Chemotherapeutic-Induced Apoptosis In Esophageal Squamous Cancer Cells By The Keystone Periodontal Pathogen, Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Atul Kumar Agrawal May 2017

Inhibition Of Chemotherapeutic-Induced Apoptosis In Esophageal Squamous Cancer Cells By The Keystone Periodontal Pathogen, Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Atul Kumar Agrawal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence has shown that P. gingivalis, a Gram-negative, anaerobic oral bacterium, is negatively associated with the presence and outcome of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). While potential underlying mechanisms are yet to be established, P. gingivalis infection is known to inhibit apoptosis in gingival epithelial cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that P. gingivalis may also inhibit of the induction of apoptosis in human ESCC cells exposed to the commonly employed anti-ESCC chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin. The capacity of P. gingivalis, at variant multiplicities of infection, to suppress cisplatin-induced necrosis and apoptosis in EC9706 ESCC cells was established by lactate …


Mechanism Of Interaction Of Peptide Modified Nanoparticles With Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Ankita Jain Dec 2016

Mechanism Of Interaction Of Peptide Modified Nanoparticles With Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Ankita Jain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies suggest that P. gingivalis functions as a keystone pathogen and interacts with primary colonizers in the supragingival biofilm such as S. gordonii. This interaction contributes to the initial colonization of the oral cavity by P. gingivalis and thus represents a potential target for therapeutic intervention. We have identified a peptide (BAR) derived from the streptococcal SspB protein that functions to inhibit P. gingivalis adherence to S. gordonii. In addition, we showed that nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with BAR inhibit this interaction more potently than free soluble peptide, possibly by promoting interaction with P. gingivalis at higher valency than …


Characterization Of Pg1604 (Porz) As An Essential Component Of Type 9 Secretion System In Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Apurva Tadimari Prabhakar Aug 2016

Characterization Of Pg1604 (Porz) As An Essential Component Of Type 9 Secretion System In Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Apurva Tadimari Prabhakar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: The numerous virulence factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis are essential for the organism to invade host tissues while escaping immune responses [1, 2]. Some of these factors, like major proteases referred to as gingipains, are secreted by a unique secretion system called PerioGate or Type IX Secretion System (T9SS). T9SS consists of a number of membrane and periplasmic proteins, which provide transportation only for proteins that possess a conserved C-terminal domain (CTD). The CTD functions as a specific recognition signal for the T9SS. PG1604 of P. gingivalis W83 is a CTD-containing protein, which has been shown in our initial studies …


Tobacco-Gene Activity Profile In Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Filifactor Alocis And Treponema Denticola., Neelima Chowdary Cherukumalli May 2016

Tobacco-Gene Activity Profile In Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Filifactor Alocis And Treponema Denticola., Neelima Chowdary Cherukumalli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Smoking is an established risk factor for periodontitis. Prior studies have shown that cigarette smoke extract (CSE) can induce profound phenotypic changes in Porphyromonas gingivalis and alters the virulence of this important periodontal pathogen. We hypothesized that CSE might also alter gene expression in established periodontal pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola, as well as in the emerging pathogen, Filifactor alocis. Oral bacteria were grown in CSE-conditioned medium (1000 ng/ml nicotine equivalents) or in unconditioned control medium. Total RNA was extracted and CSE-regulated genes were identified by comparison of the mRNA profiles of CSE with control cultures using RNA-Seq …


Synthesis And Functional Evaluation Of Peptide Modified Poly (Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles To Inhibit Porphyromonas Gingivalis Biofilm Formation., Paridhi Kalia Dec 2015

Synthesis And Functional Evaluation Of Peptide Modified Poly (Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles To Inhibit Porphyromonas Gingivalis Biofilm Formation., Paridhi Kalia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal disease is an oral inflammatory disorder that afflicts roughly 46% of the adults in the U.S. Currently, treatment of periodontal disease involves the removal of plaque from the gingival pocket (with possible antibiotic treatment) and if necessary, gingival surgery. To our knowledge, no therapeutic approach exists that promotes host-biofilm homeostasis by limiting pathogen recolonization of the oral cavity after prophylaxis or treatment. The interaction of the pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis with commensal streptococci is critical for initiation of periodontitis and represents a target for limiting P. gingivalis colonization of the oral cavity. Previous studies showed that a synthetic peptide …


The Role Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis In The Regulation Of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers In Migration., Akintunde Ojo 1981- Dec 2014

The Role Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis In The Regulation Of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers In Migration., Akintunde Ojo 1981-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A relationship between periodontal disease and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been demonstrated in recent studies. Porphyromonas gingivalis’ antigen have been found in oral cancer cells. The embryonic program “epithelial-mesenchymal transition” (EMT) is thought to trigger cancer invasion by allowing tumor cell propagation. The objective of this study was to examine the role of P. gingivalis in the expression of ZEB1, vimentin, and repression of miRNA-200 family as EMT prognostic markers in cancer cell metastasis. Human telomerase immortalized gingival keratinocytes (TIGK) cells were challenged with P. gingivalis strain ATCC 33277 in vitro for 24h at MOI 50 and 100. …


Interleukin-6 Production And Epithelial Cell Signaling By Telomerase Immortalized Gingival Keratinocytes In Porphyromonas Gingivalis Infection., Himabindu Vuddaraju Aug 2014

Interleukin-6 Production And Epithelial Cell Signaling By Telomerase Immortalized Gingival Keratinocytes In Porphyromonas Gingivalis Infection., Himabindu Vuddaraju

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

P. gingivalis is a major periodontal disease causing pathogen. Gingival epithelial cells being the first line of defense, interact and internalize the bacteria evoking a cell signaling response that finally leads to the release of cytokines. IL-6 is a potent pro- inflammatory cytokine, which is one of the responsible factors for bone resorption, a clinical manifestation of periodontitis. The experimental model study hypothesizes that P. gingivalis infection increases the production of IL-6 in telomerase immortalized gingival keratinocytes (TIGKs) through up-regulation of c-Jun (AP-1 reporter). We observed the IL-6 production post-infection with P. gingivalis WT ATCC33277 and mutants ?0482, ?Ndk and …


Neutrophils Alter Epithelial Response To Porphyromonas Gingivalis In A Gingival Crevice Model., Jessica Lynn Bondy-Carey 1987- May 2014

Neutrophils Alter Epithelial Response To Porphyromonas Gingivalis In A Gingival Crevice Model., Jessica Lynn Bondy-Carey 1987-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A gingival crevice model (epithelial cell-Porphyromonas gingivalis-neutrophil) was established and used to profile gingipain, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), MMP mediators [neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1)] and cytokine networks. Smoking is the primary environmental risk factor for periodontitis. Therefore, the influence of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was also monitored in the same model. Porphyromonas gingivalis alone induced low levels of interleukin-1b and interleukin-8 from epithelial cells, but high levels of both cytokines were produced on the addition of neutrophils. Exposure to CSE (100 and 1000 ng mL1 nicotine equivalency) significantly compromised P. gingivalis-induced cytokine secretion (both …