ORCID

Abstract

Porphyromonas gingivalis is described as a keystone pathogen associated with periodontal disease (PD), which exhibits enhanced representation upon microbial dysbiosis in such a chronic inflammatory disease. This oral pathogen drives and contributes to a dysregulated immune response, resulting in stages of aggressive destructive immune activation and inflammation punctuated by immune suppression, which underlies the relapsing–remitting nature of this disease. The understanding of key mechanisms and balance between protective innate, adaptive immune responses and dysregulated responses, linked to changes in the oral mucosal microbial environment, will afford researchers the potential to manipulate oral mucosal environments for clinical benefit. This review focuses on the dynamic interactions between the oral pathogen P. gingivalis and the immune system with an emphasis on immune evasion and how the potential correction of these mechanisms may benefit future therapeutic interventions, leading to the successful treatment of PD.

Publication Date

2026-03-12

Publication Title

Microorganisms

Volume

14

Issue

3

Acceptance Date

2026-03-03

Deposit Date

2026-04-08

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Keywords

periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, dysbiosis, inflammation, immune evasion, endotoxin tolerization

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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