Periodontal vaccine: A short synopsis

Immunization using a vaccine against periodontitis decreases the number of periodontopathic bacteria in the subgingival flora and inhibits alveolar bone destruction in several animal models. The foremost step in vaccine development is identification of an antigenic component from various organisms that can provide immune protection. Identification of such an antigen is made difficult by the fact in that the periodontopathic species has a complex clonal structure with multiple serotypes, and no single type or groups of types have been documented to cause human periodontitis. This review highlights the importance of Porphyromonas gingivalis and its antigenic components as a potential candidate for periodontal vaccination.