Recent studies have shown that a protein present in the gingival epithelium (the part of the gums that surrounds the teeth) may have antimicrobial properties, in particular against the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). In addition to playing a significant role in periodontal disease, this bacterium may also be linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The findings of the study led by Antonio Nanci, a researcher and professor in the Department of Stomatology at the University of Montreal, and postdoctoral researcher Charline Mary, in collaboration with colleagues from Université Laval and McGill University, were recently published in the journal Nature Scientific Report.
Sign up for Oral Health Group’s weekly e-newsletter to have news delivered straight to your inbox!
