Biochemical characterisation of outer membrane vesicles from periodontal pathogens and their role in innate immunity

© 2017 Dr. Jessica Dorothy CecilThis project characterises and assesses the immunological effects of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by major periodontal pathogens Porphromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia. An OMV purification and enumeration protocol was optimised and used to determine the composition, general properties and major immunological stimulants associated with periodontal OMVs. This study includes an exploration into the immunological differences between multidrug-resistant and antibiotic-susceptible ESKAPE pathogens to demonstrate the advantages of the purification protocol above. Finally, the immunological effects of OMVs on innate immunity were explored by challenging oral host cells (epithelial/fibroblast/endothelial) and early innate immune responders (monocytes/macrophages) and evaluating their responses