DOI:

10.37988/1811-153X_2025_1_171

The role of virulence factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia in pathogenesis of periodontal diseases: A review

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Authors

  • O.V. Evdokimova 1, PhD in Medical Sciences, associate professor and head of the Microbiology Department
    ORCID: 0000-0002-5035-7302
  • E.P. Kotelevets 1, PhD in Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Microbiology Department
    ORCID: 0000-0001-7972-5861
  • A.I. Novak 1, Doctor of Science in Biology, professor of the Microbiology Department
    ORCID: 0000-0003-0345-7316
  • V.V. Biryukov 1, PhD in Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Microbiology Department
    ORCID: 0000-0003-2704-5893
  • 1 Ryazan State Medical University, 390026, Ryazan, Russia

Abstract

Currently, cultural and molecular genetic research methods make it possible to obtain important data on the phenotype of virulent strains to assess their etiological significance in the development of the pathological process. Virulence factors of microorganisms provide specific interaction of the pathogen with periodontal cells, help evade or protect themselves from the immune reactions of the macroorganism and have a direct damaging effect on the structural integrity and functions of host cells. The study of these biological properties of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia makes it possible to predict the likelihood of developing diseases and assess the risks of complications during the manifestation of the inflammatory process in periodontal tissue. At the same time, the high variability of virulence properties, the dependence of their synthesis in vivo on other phenotypic properties of the pathogen and the presence of other microorganisms make determining the etiological significance of various virulence factors of periodontopathogens not a simple medical task. The virulent properties of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia are characterized not only by species specificity, but also by a wide range of secreted metabolic products, the damaging effect of which is directed selectively to periodontal tissue. This review makes an attempt to group the virulent properties of Porphyromonas and Forsythia according to their ability to participate in the pathogenesis of the pathological process in periodontal tissue from colonization to disruption of homeostasis, characterizing the multifunctionality of virulence factors. Identification of the most important and key virulent properties of periodontal pathogens can be used to create new approaches in the development of algorithms for etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy of periodontal diseases.

Key words:

virulence, periodontopathogenic bacteria, capsule, fimbrillins, porin proteins, secreted proteins, glycoproteins, trypsin-like proteinases, gingipains, lipopolysaccharide, glycosides

For Citation

[1]
Evdokimova O.V., Kotelevets E.P., Novak A.I., Biryukov V.V. The role of virulence factors of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia in pathogenesis of periodontal diseases: A review. Clinical Dentistry (Russia).  2025; 28 (1): 171—178. DOI: 10.37988/1811-153X_2025_1_171

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Received

December 9, 2024

Accepted

February 21, 2025

Published on

April 7, 2025