EVALUATION OF ‘RED COMPLEX’ BACTERIA PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY

The species composition of oral microbiota is one of the key factors determining the features of chronic inflammation and periodontal diseases progression. ‘Red complex’ bacteria presented by Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola have the greatest pathogenic potential. These bacteria possess proteolytic activity, which plays various important roles in virulence mechanisms and allowing them to colonize and destroy periodontal tissues. Early diagnosis of pathological conditions induced by microbial contamination allows for a timely treatment of periodontitis. A total of 38 patients aged 18 to 65 years, requiring professional oral hygiene were recruited for this study. Microbial content analysis of dental plaque from the interdental space and the back of the tongue was performed using real-time PCR. The proteolytic activity of oral bacteria was determined by the rapid diagnostic method (diagnostic sensitivity, 0.95; specificity, 0.93). The results demonstrate a strong and significant correlation between the new method and the PCR analysis (r = 0.785, p < 0.001). Study results show that the rapid diagnostic method can be valuable on the preliminary diagnosis stage for periodontal inflammatory disorders caused by the ‘red complex’ bacteria.