Characterization of T. forsythia leucine-rich repeat proteins

A cell-surface associated and secreted protein, the BspA protein, was identified from T. forsythia in our laboratory.  BspA belongs to the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) as well as bacterial immunoglobulin-like domain (Big_2) protein families (shown in left).  Our studies have shown that BspA plays multifunctional roles in the pathogenesis  by mediating bacterial adherence/invasion into gingival epithelial cells and by inducing release of proinflammatory cytokines in host cells through activating TLR2 receptor.

To define T helper cell responses to T. forsythia

The overall goal is to assess the contributions of the three Th cell types (Th1, Th2 and Th17) in alveolar bone loss induces by T. forsythia by utilizing mouse models with targeted gene deletions affecting Th cell subsets or signaling.