1.The virulence system of Porphyromonas gingivalis: Genes, mechanism and potential role of gingipains inhibitors
Mohammad Auwal Sa&rsquo ; ad ; Ramasamy Kavitha ; Neeraj Kumar Fuloria ; Shivkanya Fuloria ; Manickam Ravichandran ; Pattabhiraman Lalitha
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2021;17(2):212-226
ABSTRACT
The oral microbiome comprises several hundreds of bacterial species that contribute to periodontitis, the most complex
polymicrobial inflammatory disorder. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a prominent periodontitis pathogen that produces
gingipains as a major virulent factor. Gingipain facilitates P. gingivalis survival, pathogenicity, and growth. Several genes
were identified to have a role in the regulating of P. gingivalis pathogenesis. Studies suggest that gingipains inhibition is
key for the successful treatment of periodontitis. As of now, several gingipain inhibitors have been developed, some
exhibit high inhibition activity against gingipains. However, most inhibitors offer unknown toxicity and undesirable side
effects. Hence, the development of highly potent and safe gingipain inhibitor is a major concern for periodontitis
treatment. The present review highlights the connectivity between P. gingivalis, virulent factors, and its gene,
periodontitis, and gingipain inhibitors. Development of gingipains inhibitors would not only treat periodontitis but would
also assist in the treatment of other associated systemic diseases, for example: rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular
diseases, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
Porphyromonas gingivalis--pathogenicity
;
Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases
2. COVID-19-associated mucormycosis and treatments
Vetriselvan SUBRAMANIYAN ; Rusli Bin NORDIN ; Srikumar CHAKRAVARTHI ; Shivkanya FULORIA ; Neeraj Kumar FULORIA ; Hari Kumar DARNAL ; Dhanalekshmi Unnikrishnan MEENAKSHI ; Shah Alam KHAN ; Mahendran SEKAR ; Kathiresan V. SATHASIVAM ; Yuan Seng WU ; Usha KUMARI ; Kalvatala SUDHAKAR ; Rishabha MALVIYA ; Vipin Kumar SHARMA
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2021;14(9):401-409
In the current pandemic, COVID-19 patients with predisposing factors are at an increased risk of mucormycosis, an uncommon angioinvasive infection that is caused by fungi with Mucor genus which is mainly found in plants and soil. Mucormycosis development in COVID-19 patient is related to various factors, such as diabetes, immunocompromise and neutropenia. Excessive use of glucocorticoids for the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients also leads to opportunistic infections, such as pulmonary aspergillosis. COVID-19 patients with mucormycosis have a very high mortality rate. This review describes the pathogenesis and various treatment approaches for mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients, including medicinal plants, conventional therapies, adjunct and combination therapies.