Countless people throughout the U.S. and around the world are afflicted each and every year with periodontitis, or gum disease. Although there are several procedures that dentists and dental surgeons can use to fight the condition, there has never been an effective antibiotic developed to help cure gum disease.
The reason is simple – scientists have not been able to understand exactly which bacteria are responsible for causing periodontitis. Until they solve that mystery, an effective antibiotic can’t be developed.
Fortunately, experts have made some progress in this field. A recent study conducted by specialists at Ohio State University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that as many as 200 different species of bacteria may exist under 20 different variants within the human mouth. No wonder gum disease has been such a mystery!
During the study, experts collected DNA samples from a healthy human mouth and were able to successfully sequence the bacterium. Named Tannerella BUO63, the newly sequenced bacterium is closely related to another known pathogenic species called Tannerella forsythia, which plays a role in causing gum disease. Scientists were then able to compare the two bacteriums and identify genetic differences.
This kind of research may sound a little complicated to most of us, but the important thing to remember is this: scientists are continuing to study the causes of periodontitis in an effort to more effectively treat this condition in the future. Who knows? Maybe gum disease won’t always be such a mystery after all!
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140305125146.htm
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