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Periodontitis is an inflammatory gum disease driven by bacterial infection and left untreated it can lead to complications including tooth loss. The disease has also been associated with diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. One of the chief bacterial culprits behind periodontitis is Porphyromonas gingivalis, which colonizes biofilms on tooth surfaces and proliferates in deep periodontal pockets. Matcha, a finely ground green tea powder, may help keep P. gingivalis at bay. Researchers in Japan report that matcha inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis in lab experiments. In addition, in a clinical study involving 45 people with...

Sci. Signal., 16 February 2010 Vol. 3, Issue 109, p. pc4 [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.3109pc4] PODCASTS Science Signaling Podcast: 16 February 2010 George Hajishengallis1, 2 and Annalisa M. VanHook3 1 University of Louisville School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.2 University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Oral Health and Systemic Disease, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.3 Associate Online Editor of Science Signaling, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1200 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005, USA. Abstract: This is a conversation with George Hajishengallis about a Research Article published in the 16 February 2010 issue of...