Treponema denticolaIs Resistant to Human β-Defensins

Abstract
Spirochetes, includingTreponema denticola, are implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. BecauseT. denticolalacks lipopolysaccharides that serve as targets for human β-defensin (hβD) binding, we postulated thatT. denticolawould resist killing by hβD. We showed thatT. denticolais resistant to hβD-1 and -2. Protease inhibitors did not enhance killing ofT. denticolaby hβD-2, suggesting that degradation of hβD-2 by treponemal proteases is not a major factor inT. denticolaresistance.