Detection of neuraminidase production and haemagglutination in Prevotella spp. and Porphyromonas spp.

• Grant number: 06/04443-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2006
• End date: October 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Periodontology
• Principal Investigator: Mario Júlio Ávila-Campos
• Grantee: Paulo Roberto Gnecco Rodrigues de Assis
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Species of the genus Bacteroides, Prevotella and Porphyromonas belong to indigenous microbiota of oropharinge, and gastrointestinal and genital tracts. Prevotella spp. and Porphyromonas spp. are often isolated from head, neck and lung infections. In oral cavity the subgingival biofilm represent the main site of colonization of the gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobic bacteria. Porphyromonas spp. isolated from dog display biochemical alterations when compared to strains of human origin, particularly by the catalase production. It produced the discovery of different species such as P. canoris, P. gingivicanis, P. crevioricanis, P. cangingivalis, P. cansulci and P. gulae, which are present in health and diseased sites of those animals. The sialidase production maybe is related to the pathogenesis of Prevotella spp. and Porphyromonas spp. Also, that enzymes increase the ability of these organisms to adhesion, invasion and destroying mucosa, as well as to alter the collagen synthesis. Then, in this study the phenotypic detection and the inhibition of neuraminidase, as well as the hemagglutination in species of Prevotella and Porphyromonas isolated from oral cavity of humans and dogs with periodontal disease will be evaluated.