Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans- A periodontopathogen

Abstract

is a gram-negative oral pathobiont that is associated with severe form of periodontitis. This bacterium has various virulence factors which enables the bacterium to colonize the oral cavity, invade and evade the host defences. Leukotoxin and cytolethal distending toxin are the important virulence factors that causes periodontal destruction. Periodontal infections with seems to be refractory to conventional therapy and systemic antibiotics. Hence, leukotoxin represents an ideal anti-virulence target and inhibition of its immunosuppressive activity would eliminate the colonization advantage provided to the bacteria by the toxin. This review provides a comprehensive update of with an emphasis on its virulence factors leukotoxin and cytolethal distending toxin and its role in periodontal destruction and recent developments in the management.