Genotype analysis of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimA in Korean adults using new primers

Strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a periodontopathic bacterium, are classified into six genotypic variants based on nucleotide sequence differences in the fimA gene encoding FimA. A PCR assay using primer sets specific for each genotype has demonstrated that the most predominant fimA genotype in periodontitis patients is type II, which is now commonly referred to as the periodontitis-associated fimA genotype of P. gingivalis. However, the potential for false type II fimA positives caused by cross-hybridization of type II fimA-specific primers with type Ib fimA has complicated the genotyping. A previous study developed new primers that specifically amplified only the DNA fragment of type II fimA. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of P. gingivalis fimA genotypes in Korean adults and to reconfirm the relationship between type II fimA and periodontitis using the new primers. Among 412 Korean adults, P. gingivalis was detected in 97.5% of patients and 57.8% of healthy subjects. Type II fimA was the most widely distributed type among healthy and periodontitis subjects. Organisms with types II, Ib and IV fimA had a significant frequency of occurrence in periodontitis subjects. Statistical analysis, however, revealed that a more significant correlation was found between periodontitis and the occurrence of type Ib fimA.