Journal article

Role of RgpA, RgpB, and Kgp proteinases in virulence of Porphyromonas gingivalis W50 in a murine lesion model

NM O'Brien-Simpson, RA Paolini, B Hoffman, N Slakeski, SG Dashper, EC Reynolds

INFECTION AND IMMUNITY | AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY | Published : 2001

Abstract

Extracellular Arg-x- and Lys-x-specific cysteine proteinases are considered important virulence factors and pathogenic markers for Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium implicated as a major etiological agent of chronic periodontitis. Three genes. rgpA, rgpB, and kgp, encode an Arg-x-specific proteinase and adhesins (RgpA), an Arg-x-specific proteinase (RgpB), and a Lys-x-specific proteinase and adhesins (Kgp), respectively. The contribution to pathogenicity of each of the proteinase genes of P. gingivalis W50 was investigated in a murine lesion model using isogenic mutants lacking RgpA, RgpB, and Kgp. Whole-cell Arg-x-specific proteolytic activity of both the RgpA(-) and RgpB(-) isogenic mu..

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