On April 8, Professor of Molecular Microbiology Thuy Do (School of Dentistry, University of Leeds, UK) will give a lecture at ACTA on the oral microbiome, from the spread of resistance genes to its association with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of rheumatism and a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints.
New research shows that changes in the bacteria and genetic characteristics of the mouth may play an important role in the development of oral diseases as well as other conditions in the body. For example, certain patterns in oral bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics appear to be good predictors of periodontitis (severe gum inflammation). In addition, there are indications that processes in the gums may already play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis—a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints—before the first symptoms appear.
