Complete Genome Sequence of the Bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a black-pigmented asaccharolytic anaerobe and a major causative agent of periodontitis. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of P. gingivalis strain TDC60, which was recently isolated from a severe periodontal lesion in a Japanese patient. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative asaccharolytic bacterium which causes destructive periodontal diseases that result in a weakening of the tooth-supporting tissue and loss of teeth (7). Complete genomic sequences of two P. gingivalis laboratory strains, W83 and ATCC 33277, have been available for several years (11, 12). However, there is a need to analyze recently isolated strains without extensive subculture, because reports indicate a loss of virulence by a number of pathogenic bacteria after several passages in laboratory culture (1). P. gingivalis TDC60 was isolated from a severe periodontal lesion at Tokyo Dental College in Japan. Strain TDC60 exhibited higher pathogenicity in causing abscesses in mice than strain