An early report: a modified porphyrin-linked metronidazole targeting intracellular Porphyromonas gingivalis in cultured oral epithelial cells

Abstract

A modified antibiotic has been shown to effectively get inside cells and kill bacteria that can cause gum disease to return after treatment. The bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis is a cause of gum disease, and treatment with the antibiotic metronidazole is not completely effective. Metronidazole kills P. gingivalis but, unlike the bacteria, cannot get inside cells. P. gingivalis that consequently persists inside cells in the mouth after treatment is thought to contribute to recurrence of gum disease. In their new study, Ping Ye from the University of Sydney, Australia, and colleagues modified metronidazole with porphyrin, a molecule that enabled the antibiotic to enter cultured human mouth cells and target the bacteria. The modified antibiotic killed bacteria inside cells effectively, indicating that it could treat gum disease and prevent its recurrence.

Keywords

porphyrin-linked metronidazole / Porphyromonas gingivalis / periodontitis / oral epithelial cells

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