Analysis of genes involved in attenuation of virulence in Porphyromonas gingivalis W50, Beige and Brown

Porphyromonas gingivalis W50 is black pigmenting oral anaerobe involved in periodontal disease leading to alveolar bone loss and ultimately tooth loss. Two spontaneous variants, P. gingivalis W50 Beige and P. gingivalis W50 Brown have lost the ability to pigment, possess reduced proteolytic activities, and are avirulent in a mouse model of periodontal disease. Comparative genomics has assisted in localising loci likely to be involved in these phenotypic conversions and hence lead to elucidation of mechanisms responsible for the process.