Involvement of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in the innate immune response to Treponema denticola and its outer sheath components.

Treponema denticola is considered an important oral pathogen in the development and progression of periodontal diseases. In the present study, the mechanisms of recognition and activation of murine macrophages by T. denticola and its major outer sheath protein (MSP) and lipooligosaccharide (LOS or glycolipid) were investigated.

Coaggregation of Treponema denticola with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum is mediated by the major outer sheath protein of Treponema denticola.

Coagreggation of Treponema denticola with either Porphyromonas gingivalis or Fusobacterium nucleatum was characterized and the role of the major outer sheath protein (MSP) in the coaggregation process of these bacteria was evaluated. The MSP of T. denticola was found to be able to bind to P.