Public Lecture: How the bacteria in your mouth can cause havoc elsewhere in your body
Gum disease is one of the most common long-term health problems worldwide. While it often causes tooth loss, research shows its impact can go much further, linking harmful oral bacteria to conditions such as pneumonia, arthritis, oesophageal cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease. At this free public lecture, Professor Jan Potempa — an internationally recognised researcher in oral microbiology — will explain how bacteria from the mouth may contribute to serious illnesses elsewhere in the body. His pioneering work has shed light on how these microbes act, and why tackling gum disease may play a role in protecting overall health.
Date: Monday 22 September 2025
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Venue: University of Glasgow – Advanced Research Centre (ARC), Room 237ABC
Category: Public lectures
Speaker: Professor Jan Potempa
Document: PublicLecturePoster
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to a public lecture by Prof. Jan Potempa, a world-leading researcher in oral microbiology.
Title: How the bacteria in your mouth can cause havoc elsewhere in your body
Date & Time: Monday 22 September, 4:00–5:00 pm
Venue: Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow
Registration: Eventbrite (free, required)
Gum disease is one of the most common long-term health problems worldwide. While it often causes tooth loss, research shows that its impact can go much further. Scientists have linked harmful oral bacteria to conditions such as pneumonia, arthritis, oesophageal cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease. These bacteria can damage tissues directly and interfere with the body’s immune system, making gum disease not only a dental problem but also a potential risk factor for wider health issues.
At this free public lecture,
Professor Jan Potempa — an internationally recognised researcher in oral microbiology — will explain how bacteria from the mouth may contribute to serious illnesses elsewhere in the body. His pioneering work has shed light on how these microbes act, and why tackling gum disease may play a role in protecting overall health.
Prof. Potempa will discuss how chronic gum disease, driven by Porphyromonas gingivalis, extends well beyond oral health. His research links this bacterium to systemic conditions including aspiration pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, oesophageal cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, mediated by virulence factors such as gingipains and PPAD.
Prof. Potempa is Head of Microbiology at Jagiellonian University (Poland) and Research Professor at the University of Louisville (USA). He has published over 500 papers, received numerous international awards, and is ranked the world’s leading scholar on P. gingivalis.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be a fascinating and cross-disciplinary talk.
Kind regards,
Professor Shauna Culshaw
Professor of Periodontology and Immunology
School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
University of Glasgow
Dr Jennifer Malcolm
Lecturer in Biomedical Science
School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
University of Glasgow
Krystyna Piela
PhD Student in Dentistry
School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
University of Glasgow