<i>Filifactor alocis</i> Pathogenicity Requires TLR2 and the Oral Microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Enrichment of the oral microorganism Filifactor alocis is strongly associated with the progression of periodontitis. However, F. alocis is part of a complex dysbiotic microbial community, and the organism's direct pathogenic potential remains uncharacterized. Using the oral gavage model of experimental periodontitis, we revealed that F. alocis promotes alveolar bone loss, as well as significant overexpression of proinflammatory markers associated with osteoclastogenesis and inflammation in oral tissues. Interestingly, despite colonizing in low abundance, F. alocis infection promoted the perturbation of the homeostatic oral microbial community toward a dysbiotic state. Systemically, high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and antibody titers against

SUBMITTER: Vashishta A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12291099 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature