Title
Degradation of human alpha- and beta-defensins by culture supernatants of Porphyromonas gingivalis
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree
Summer 2010
Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Degree In
Oral Science
First Advisor
Kim A. Brogden
First Committee Member
Georgia K Johnson
Second Committee Member
Paula L Weistroffer
Third Committee Member
Jeffrey A Banas
Abstract
Porphyromonas gingivalis produces proteases capable of degrading cytokines, host heme proteins, and some antimicrobial peptides. In this work, I show that P. gingivalis culture supernatants fully or partially degrade human neutrophil peptide alpha-defensins and human beta-defensins after 30 minutes. This observation suggests that proteases from P. gingivalis degrade defensins and this activity could abrogate defensin-related innate immune functions.
Keywords
alpha-defensins, beta-defensins, Periodontal Disease, periodontitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis
Pages
x, 99 pages
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 55-65).
Copyright
Copyright 2010 Matthew David Carlisle