The Capsule of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Protects Gum Disease-Causing Bacteria From Immune Response

According to recent research the capsule, Porphyromonas gingivalis, the bacterium that causes gum disease, provides stealth, boosting the bacterium's virulence. You may have also heard it referred to as a sugar coating, as the capsule is made from sugar molecules. These molecules do not ordinarily elicit immunity, despite the fact that it does hide the bacterium's proteins within, preventing immune response.
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The study was led by Janina P. Lewis, of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. The scientists compared the ability of normal, and mutant bacteria that were missing the capsule.

"The mutant bacteria activated the host to a greater extent, and thus, were more easily killed by eukaryote cells," says Lewis. "Thus, the capsule protects the bacteria and allows them to survive unnoticed in our bodies."


 "Thus, anything that would interfere with generation of capsule, such as drugs interfering with the action of enzymes involved in synthesis of the sugar coat, could be used in treatment of periodontal disease, and importantly, could have broader implications for prevention of more serious diseases," added Lewis.

Source: The Journal Of The American Society For Microbiology