Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans plays a major role in the pathogenesis of aggressive periodontitis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from A. actinomycetemcomitans is a key factor in inflammatory cytokine generation within periodontal tissues. In this study, we identify major mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways induced by A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS, Escherichia coli...

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is found in Gram-negative bacteria, especially in certain Proteobacteria such as the Pasteurellaceae family, including Haemophilus ducreyi and Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans, in the Enterobacteriaceae family and the Campylobacterales order, including the Campylobacter and Helicobacter species. In vitro and in vivo studies have clearly sh...

The gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common cause of infections associated with catheters and other indwelling medical devices. S. epidermidis produces an extracellular slime that enables it to form adherent biofilms on plastic surfaces. We found that a biofilm-releasing enzyme produced by the gram-negative periodontal pathogen Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ...