Periodontal Vaccines - A Dream or Reality

Periodontal disease refers to the processes of destruction of the peri-tooth structures that support the teeth. Periodontal diseases are primarily initiated and perpetuated by mixed biofilm (possibly also including viruses), other factors including host-associated factors, genetic predisposition, immune dysfunction, and environmental factors can exacerbate the disease. Thus, a combined strategy, targeting both specific pathogenic species and the host immune response would have to be adopted for the sophisticated management of the compromised subject. Within this context, vaccine strategy has been based on prevention of disease and less so on their treatment.Traditional periodontal vaccine trials aim to stimulate the immune system to produce increased levels of immunoglobulin of desired specificity. To accomplish this end, a conjugate vaccine (i.e. protein-CPS conjugate), dendritic-cell based immunotherapy, and subunit DNA vaccine encoding the desired immunogenic epitope have been devised.