Abstract
The effect of various types of protease inhibitors on cell growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a highly proteolytic suspected periodontal pathogen, was assessed by a disc-plate technique. Bestatin and iodoacetamide most effectively inhibited growth of P. gingivalis. To a lesser extent, leupeptin, p-chloromercuriphenylsulphonic acid, 1–10 phenanthroline and N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone also reduced the growth of P. gingivalis. Bestatin, iodoacetamide as well as leupeptin had no inhibitory effect on culture of other selected oral bacterial species. Except for bestatin, the protease inhibitors showing inhibition of the growth of P. gingivalis were also effective in reducing the cell-associated proteolytic activity. It is suggested that protease inhibitors have the potential to modulate the microbial ecology of subgingival sites by interfering with bacterial growth.