title: [Initial study of biological characterization and virulence of Porphyromonas gingivalis PG0839-defective mutant].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of PG0839 gene form Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) on biological characterization and virulence in a murine model of soft tissue destruction, and further to provide evidence for clarifying the gene function of PG0839.
  
  
  METHODS
  P. gingivalis W83 and PG0839-defective mutant strains were plated on brain heart infusion (BHI). Colonial formation, micromorphology and growth curve of the two strains were observed. The two strains cells were mixed respectively with sheep erythrocytes, which were prepared to a final concentration of 1% in 1×PBS, to assess hemagglutination activity. The mice were challenged with subcutaneous injections of bacterial suspension,which were P. gingivalis W83 and PG0839-defective mutant strains at the doses of 2×10(10), 1×10(10), 5×10(9) CFU/mL respectively, on the dorsal surface. Difference in survival situation of mice in various groups was examined using Pearson Chi-square and log rank test with SPSS 13.0 software package.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to the wild-type W83 strain, PG0839-defective mutant strain was nonpigmented and the hemagglutinin activities reduced. However, the growth rate of PG0839-defective mutant strain was not affected (U=25.50, P=0.19). Results of the mice subcutaneous infection model indicated that the virulence of the PG0839-defective mutant strain was significantly lower than P. gingivalis W83 strain (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Absence of PG0839 gene altered several biological characteristics of P. gingivalis W83 strain, suggesting that PG0839 gene may regulate the expression of certain gene or gene product of P. gingivalis W83 strain. Moreover, PG0839 gene may contribute to the virulence of P. gingivalis W83.
authors: Department of Periodontology, China Medical University. Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. jingboliu1980@yahoo.com.cn
authors: Jing-bo
authors: JB
authors: Liu
authors: Ya-ping
authors: YP
authors: Pan
authors: Xue-bin
authors: XB
authors: Xu
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Lin
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis; D012756:Sheep; D014774:Virulence