Strain variation in the human periodontopathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis using Porphyromonas gulae as an outgroup

Chronic periodontitis is a prevalent bacterially associated inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the tooth that is also associated with a range of systemic diseases and disorders. Porphyromonas gingivalis is regarded as a keystone pathogen of this polymicrobial disease. The virulence of Porphyromonas gingivalis is reported to be strain related. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic variability P. gingivalis strains sourced from panglobal geographical locations and determine if variability in virulence related proteins has a phylogenetic basis. Porphyromonas gulae is an animal pathogen thought to play a similar role to P. gingivalis, and was compared at the genomic level as an outgroup.