Treponema denticola is an oral spirochete associated with periodontal disease. T. denticola belongs to a larger family of oral spirochetes which, although found in low numbers in healthy tissue, increases in numbers at diseased sites. Oral treponemes have the ability to invade gingival and connective tissues by mechanisms which are not yet fully understood. Since routine culture of these organisms is difficult, the most commonly used method of determining the presence of oral spirochetes is dark field microscopy of wet mounts, a method not readily adaptable to a routine dental practice. It is our aim to develop DNA probes directed to T. denticola, the newly identified Pathogen Related Oral Sprochete (PROS), and other oral spirochetes and to incorporate these probes into a semi-automated and easy-to-use format. In Phase I of this project, DNA probes will be developed and tested. In Phase II, the assay incorporating these probes will be characterized and tested in actual patient populations to determine which probe is most informative and relevant for patient care. This assay will ultimately provide a simple chair-side means of detecting the presence of oral spirochetes allowing for patient risk assessment and treatment efficacy.National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR)
