Beschreibung:
<jats:p>Chronic periodontitis (CPD) is arguably the most prevalent bacterial‐infection driven chronic inflammatory disease of the humankind. If morbidity caused by tooth loss due to advanced PD is not enough, the mounting evidence suggests a strong link between PD and life‐threatening systemic diseases. Here, I will present data showing that major periodontal pathogen, <jats:italic>Porphyromonas gingivalis</jats:italic>, can be directly implicated in development and severity of aspiration pneumonia and rheumatoid arthritis as well as it can add to pathology of esophagus cancer and Alzheimer disease. Furthermore, I will present mechanistic models of plausible engagement of specific <jats:italic>P. gingivalis</jats:italic> virulence factors, gingipains and peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD) in pathogenesis of first two diseases. Finally, the importance of hijacking host enzymes and signaling pathways by <jats:italic>P. gingivalis</jats:italic> will be discussed in the context of CPD and associated systemic diseases.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Support or Funding Information</jats:bold></jats:p><jats:p>NIH/NIDCR R01 DE 022597</jats:p><jats:p>This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in <jats:italic>The FASEB Journal</jats:italic>.</jats:p>