Red complex: Polymicrobial conglomerate in oral flora: A review

• Published in: Journal of family medicine and primary care Vol. 8; no. 11; pp. 3480 - 3486
• Main Authors: Mohanty, Rinkee, Asopa, Swati, Joseph, M, Singh, Bhupender, Rajguru, Jagadish, Saidath, K, Sharma, Uma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-11-2019; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: biofilm; Conglomerate corporations; Consortia; Emigration and immigration; Metronidazole; Periodontitis; red complex; Review; virulence factor; Biofilm; red complex; virulence factor; periodontitis
• ISSN: 2249-4863; 2278-7135
• DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_759_19

Oral diseases are the complex host responses composed of a broad array of inflammatory cells, and cytokines, chemokines, and mediators derived from the cells resident in the gingival tissues, as well as from the emigrating inflammatory cells. A chronic polymicrobial challenge to the local host tissues triggers this response, which under certain circumstances, and in a subset of the population, leads to the progressing soft and hard tissue destruction that characterizes periodontitis. The red complex has been proposed as a pathogenic consortium, consisting of P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia. This review has attempted to examine the virulence potential and determinants of these commensal opportunists.