In-Office Assay for Periodontitis Associated Bacteria

Determination of the microbial status of subgingival pockets is necessary to justify and appropriatantimicrobial therapeutic regimen for periodontal infections. Delay in receipt of the results of a mmay postpone certain kinds of treatment until a subsequent office visit. In order to assure timely texpensive patient recalls, a simple, rapid in-office test to assess microbial status is required. Thto develop such a test to serve this market need, using a proprietary interferometric assay format wrequirements of this test. In Phase I, we will (1) employ a generalized immobilization chemistry schantibodies against three bacterial species implicated in periodontitis (Porphyromonas gingivalis, PrActinobacillus actinomycetemcommitans) to small areas on the assay substrate; (2) make gold labeledantibodies; and (3) demonstrate detection of the target bacteria using the reagents and assay substrSuccessful achievement of these aims will establish the technical feasibility of our test format andwork to develop the desired test.