Fusobacterium nucleatum and other oral pathogens (F. nucleatum)

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium that serves as a key structural component of oral biofilms, acting as a bridge between early and late colonizers (Kolenbrander et al., 2000, PubMed: 11133480). While a common inhabitant of the human oral cavity, it is a primary pathogen in periodontal diseases and has been increasingly implicated in systemic conditions, most notably colorectal cancer, where it promotes tumor progression and chemoresistance via its FadA adhesin and Fap2 protein (Kostic et al., 2012, PubMed: 22012620; Han et al., 2005, PubMed: 15713475). Other oral pathogens often associated with it include the Red Complex (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola), which collectively drive chronic inflammation and tissue destruction (Socransky et al., 1998, PubMed: 9722696). Therapeutic strategies targeting these organisms typically involve broad-spectrum or targeted antibiotics and antiseptics that disrupt bacterial cell walls, DNA replication, or protein synthesis (StatPearls, 2023). However, the challenge remains to selectively eliminate these pathogens without inducing widespread dysbiosis in the host microbiome (PubMed: 30333462).

Other names

Oral microbiotaPeriodontal pathogensRed complex bacteriaAnaerobic oral flora

Inhibition of bacterial DNA synthesis, cell wall synthesis, or protein synthesis; disruption of biofilm integrity and bacterial adhesion (StatPearls, 2023; PubMed: 11133480).