A new study is shedding more light on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) — a key bacterial pathogen long associated with periodontitis and systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s.
Although P. gingivalis is found in 10 to 25 per cent of individuals with healthy gums, it’s present in an estimated 69 to 79 per cent of those with periodontal disease.
“There is still a lot of work ahead of us in developing diagnostic and therapeutic applications, but these findings are a strong start.” Dr. Manda Yu, lead researcher.
In the latest early-stage finding, researchers at the American Dental Association (ADA) Forsyth Institute have identified specific antibodies that recognize outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) released by P. gingivalis. These OMVs — microscopic particles that can circulate in the bloodstream — may reach the brain and other organs.
The antibodies, particularly immunoglobulin M (IgM), target unique sugar molecules on these vesicles, offering a potential pathway for early detection of P. gingivalis-related activity in the body.
“This discovery provides a foundation for developing diagnostic tools that can detect the presence of P. gingivalis-related components in the body, potentially before significant disease progression occurs,” said Dr. Manda Yu, lead researcher, in a release from the ADA.
The study was launched in early 2024 and was recently published at the American Society for Microbiology. Researchers say the findings may help pave the way toward new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for gum disease and its associated health risks.
“There is still a lot of work ahead of us in developing diagnostic and therapeutic applications, but these findings are a strong start,” said Yu.
Immune evasion and systemic disease links
The new findings build on previous work investigating how P. gingivalis evades the immune system. In 2024, Israeli researchers found the bacterium can exploit CD47, an immune-inhibitory protein, to survive in inflamed tissues. Their study suggested that blocking CD47 or its ligand, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), could help improve bacterial clearance and reduce systemic inflammation.
Interest in therapeutic targets has increased as mounting evidence shows P. gingivalis may play a role in more than just oral disease.
In 2019, researchers identified P. gingivalis in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Toxic proteases produced by the bacterium, known as gingipains, were also found in brain tissue, suggesting a potential mechanism for neurodegeneration.
The bacterium has also been implicated in cardiovascular disease. A meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine found a strong association between periodontal disease and increased risk of coronary artery disease. Researchers point to P. gingivalis’s role in promoting systemic inflammation and its presence in arterial plaques as key contributors.
As studies continue to link oral pathogens with broader health impacts, researchers hope early detection tools and targeted therapies can reduce the burden of gum disease — and possibly the risk of other serious conditions.