How the bacteria in your mouth can cause havoc elsewhere in your body

Chronic periodontitis is a common long-term gum disease caused by harmful bacteria, making it one of the most widespread chronic inflammatory conditions in humans. While it often leads to tooth loss, research shows that its effects can go far beyond the mouth.

One particular bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis, has been linked to several serious illnesses in other parts of the body. Studies suggest it may contribute to the development and severity of aspiration pneumonia, a lung infection that occurs when bacteria enter the lungs, and rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that causes painful swelling in the joints. There is also evidence that it may play a role in the development of esophagus cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists believe P. gingivalis can cause harm through two main mechanisms: producing enzymes called gingipains, which damage tissues, and releasing a molecule known as peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD), which can trigger harmful immune reactions. This means that gum disease is not just a dental problem—it could also be a hidden factor in several life-threatening health conditions.

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Prof. Jan Potempa earned his PhD in biochemistry in 1982 and DSc in molecular biology in 1993 from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. Throughout his extensive collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA, USA, he initially worked as a postdoctoral researcher before advancing to senior research associate. During this period, he became an expert in the regulation of proteolysis in both homeostasis and disease states. Since 1995, Prof. Potempa has been the head of the Department of Microbiology at the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biotechnology at Jagiellonian University, attaining the rank of Full Professor in 2005. He also holds positions as Research Professor and Distinguished Academic Scholar at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Louisville, KY, USA. Additionally, he has received honorary doctorates from Lund University in Sweden and Amsterdam University in the Netherlands.

Prof. Potempa has earned several prestigious awards recognizing his scientific contributions. Notably, he was awarded the Foundation for Polish Science Prize in 2011 for discovering and characterizing gingipains as virulence factors and potential drug targets for treating periodontitis. In 2021, he received the Heisig Award for his research on the role of oral pathogens in systemic diseases, including Alzheimer’s. His current research focuses on bacterial virulence factors that disrupt physiological processes and enable immune evasion, especially in periodontitis. To date, Prof. Potempa has authored over 500 publications, which have been cited more than 27,600 times (Web of Science, h-index = 85). Notably, ScholarGPS identified him as a Highly Ranked Scholar, ranking him as the number one researcher worldwide in Porphyromonas gingivalis-related studies.