%0 Journal Article
%T Capsule-Conjugate Vaccination Against Porphyromonas gingivalis Confers Protection in a Preclinical Model of Periodontal Bone Loss
%A Jonas K. Weber
%A Ahmed K. El Sherif
%A Lucia F. Romano
%J Journal of Current Research in Oral Surgery
%@ 3062-3480
%D 2025
%V 5
%N 1
%R 10.51847/v8fDF8v9PY
%P 105-118
%X Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the supporting structures of the teeth, characterized by gradual degradation of both soft and hard tissues, and stands as the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. In the United States, more than 100 million people are estimated to be affected. The disease is driven by subgingival bacterial communities that trigger and sustain inflammation. Among the diverse microbial species implicated in periodontitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis has been identified as a central contributor to disease progression. Although current clinical management emphasizes rigorous maintenance to slow the advancement of disease, these approaches frequently fail to completely prevent tissue destruction, underscoring the need for an effective vaccine. To address this, we developed a conjugate vaccine consisting of purified P. gingivalis capsular polysaccharide linked to eCRM®, an optimized variant of the CRM197 carrier protein with engineered conjugation sites (Pg-CV). In mice, immunization with the alum-adjuvanted Pg-CV elicited robust IgG responses against the whole bacterium, surpassing the immune response induced by the unconjugated polysaccharide alone. In a murine oral bone loss model, animals vaccinated with the capsule-conjugate formulation showed significant protection against bone resorption induced by P. gingivalis. These results indicate that targeting capsular polysaccharide through a conjugate vaccine can effectively mitigate oral bone loss, the primary clinical hallmark of periodontal disease. The findings provide a strong rationale for advancing the development of a P. gingivalis capsule-based vaccine as a preventive intervention for periodontal disease.
%U https://tsdp.net/article/capsule-conjugate-vaccination-against-porphyromonas-gingivalis-confers-protection-in-a-preclinical-m-iubv61zbb9bmc7d