UNAIR NEWS –聽鈥淭he oral cavity is a very unique ecosystem鈥. It was the statement of Faculty of Dental Medicine鈥檚 (FKG) professor of 东京热, Prof.聽Dr.聽Tuti Kusumaningsih, drg., M.Kes., in the professorship inauguration held in the Hall of Garuda Mukti Management Office, Saturday, September 16.
In her oration, the 17th active professor of FKG聽presented an oration titled 鈥淥ral Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) as Models to Design Effective Antibiotics鈥. According to Tuti, AMPs or better known as natural antibiotics in the saliva is an important element to maintain a balance between healthy and pain in the oral cavity.
Furthermore, Prof. Tuti also explained that in the oral cavity there are many microorganisms, either beneficial or detrimental.聽Disadvantageous microorganisms will usually cause diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis and聽peri-implantitis.
鈥淭hey are considered as chronic infectious diseases,鈥 explained Tuti.
Furthermore, Prof. Tuti later also explained that some microorganisms such as聽Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and聽Actinomyces viscosus,聽can cause colonization and form bacteria that cause biofilm plaque on tooth surfaces and shown to be a major contributor to the occurrence of infectious diseases.
鈥淔or that purpose the efforts of antimicrobial preparations such as conventional antibiotics can effectively inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation,鈥 she added.
Prof. Tuti also pointed out that during the last twenty years some types of antibiotics have been developed for clinical needs, but that is not enough to overcome the rate of bacterial resistance.
鈥淭herefore, we need to find alternatives as safe antibiotics which do not cause adverse side effects,鈥 said Prof. Tuti.
One of the best options for Prof. Tuti is to use either naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides or AMPs as well as enzymatic hydraulic results.聽According to Prof. Tuti, AMPs in both natural and synthetic form are considered as effective antibacterial agents with wide application perspective.
鈥淏ecause it can be characterized by a broad spectrum antibacterial effect with high antibacterial efficacy at low concentrations,鈥 she explained.
At the end of the oration, Prof. Tuti stated that AMPs are currently recognized as biomolecules that can be found everywhere.聽In addition, AMPs can also be synthesized from the simplest organisms such as bacteria to more complex organisms such as humans.
鈥淚n the future, AMPs are expected to be models for designing effective antibiotics to fight infections that occur in the oral cavity,鈥 said Tuti.
Author: Nuri Hermawan
Editor: Defrina Sukma S
