Commensalism of Fusobacterium nucleatum - The dilemma

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium that serves as a periodontal pathogen and plays a key role in linking Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria within the periodontal biofilm. It was shown that Fusobacterium produces significant amounts of butyric acid, which is a grea...

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Main Authors: Sangeeta Nayak, Nishmitha D. Shetty, Deepa G. Kamath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-07-01
Series:Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jisp.jisp_286_23
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author Sangeeta Nayak
Nishmitha D. Shetty
Deepa G. Kamath
author_facet Sangeeta Nayak
Nishmitha D. Shetty
Deepa G. Kamath
author_sort Sangeeta Nayak
collection DOAJ
description Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium that serves as a periodontal pathogen and plays a key role in linking Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria within the periodontal biofilm. It was shown that Fusobacterium produces significant amounts of butyric acid, which is a great source of energy for anti-inflammatory cells. On the other hand, it is associated with the destruction of periodontal structures. This bacterium can enter the blood circulation as a result of periodontal infection. It could cause numerous conditions such as halitosis, dental pulp infection, oral cancer, and systemic diseases. The present review discusses the virulence mechanisms involved in the diseases, with emphasis on its colonization, systemic dissemination, and induction of host inflammatory and tumorigenic responses. This would motivate future research on the role of this bacterium on periodontal pathology as well as its influence on the evolution of systemic diseases.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0972-124X
0975-1580
language English
publishDate 2024-07-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology
spelling doaj-art-f56210c4a0b84f39abe2c92f5372d6622025-02-06T07:19:22ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Indian Society of Periodontology0972-124X0975-15802024-07-0128442743010.4103/jisp.jisp_286_23Commensalism of Fusobacterium nucleatum - The dilemmaSangeeta NayakNishmitha D. ShettyDeepa G. KamathFusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium that serves as a periodontal pathogen and plays a key role in linking Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria within the periodontal biofilm. It was shown that Fusobacterium produces significant amounts of butyric acid, which is a great source of energy for anti-inflammatory cells. On the other hand, it is associated with the destruction of periodontal structures. This bacterium can enter the blood circulation as a result of periodontal infection. It could cause numerous conditions such as halitosis, dental pulp infection, oral cancer, and systemic diseases. The present review discusses the virulence mechanisms involved in the diseases, with emphasis on its colonization, systemic dissemination, and induction of host inflammatory and tumorigenic responses. This would motivate future research on the role of this bacterium on periodontal pathology as well as its influence on the evolution of systemic diseases.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jisp.jisp_286_23bridging speciesfusobacterium nucleatumgram-negative bacteriaperiodontal pathogenvirulence factors
spellingShingle Sangeeta Nayak
Nishmitha D. Shetty
Deepa G. Kamath
Commensalism of Fusobacterium nucleatum - The dilemma
Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology
bridging species
fusobacterium nucleatum
gram-negative bacteria
periodontal pathogen
virulence factors
title Commensalism of Fusobacterium nucleatum - The dilemma
title_full Commensalism of Fusobacterium nucleatum - The dilemma
title_fullStr Commensalism of Fusobacterium nucleatum - The dilemma
title_full_unstemmed Commensalism of Fusobacterium nucleatum - The dilemma
title_short Commensalism of Fusobacterium nucleatum - The dilemma
title_sort commensalism of fusobacterium nucleatum the dilemma
topic bridging species
fusobacterium nucleatum
gram-negative bacteria
periodontal pathogen
virulence factors
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jisp.jisp_286_23
work_keys_str_mv AT sangeetanayak commensalismoffusobacteriumnucleatumthedilemma
AT nishmithadshetty commensalismoffusobacteriumnucleatumthedilemma
AT deepagkamath commensalismoffusobacteriumnucleatumthedilemma