Distribution of Porphyromonas gingivalis biotypes defined by alleles of the kgp (Lys-gingipain) gene.
Paired subgingival plaque samples representing the most-diseased and least-diseased sites were collected from 34 adult patients with diagnosed chronic periodontitis. The percentage of Porphyromonas gingivalis relative to the total anaerobic and gram-negative bacterial load at each site was determined by real-time PCR. Based on variations in the noncatalytic C terminus of the Lys-gingipain (Kgp), it was reasoned that DNA sequence variation in the 3'-coding region of the kgp gene might determine functional biotypes. Perusal of the available sequence information in GenBank indicated three such forms of the kgp gene corresponding to P. gingivalis strains HG66, 381, and W83. Analysis of patient samples revealed the presence of a fourth genotype (W83v) that showed duplication of a sequence recognized by the W83 reverse primer. The four biotypes, HG66, 381, W83, and W83v, were present in the study group in the ratio 8:11:6:5, respectively. Each subject was colonized by one predominant biotype, and only three patients were colonized by a trace amount of a second biotype.
Institute of Dental Research, Westmead Centre for Oral Health, P.O. Box 533, Wentworthville, NSW 2145, Australia. mnadkarni@dental.wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Mangala A
MA
Nadkarni
Ky-Anh
KA
Nguyen
Cheryl C
CC
Chapple
Arthur A
AA
DeCarlo
Nicholas A
NA
Jacques
Neil
N
Hunter
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D017931:DNA Primers; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases