Complementation in trans of Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthetic Mutants Demonstrates Lipopolysaccharide Exchange

Abstract

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen contributing to periodontitis in humans, leading to tooth loss. The oral microbiota is essential in this pathogenic process and changes from predominantly Gram-positive (health) to predominantly Gram-negative (disease) species. P. gingivalis uses its type IX secretion system (T9SS) to secrete and conjugate virulence proteins to anionic lipopolysaccharide (A-LPS).