Porphyromonas gingivalis minor fimbriae are required for cell-cell interactions

Two distinctive types of fimbriae have been identified in Porphyromonas gingivalis. In this report, we demonstrate that minor fimbriae are involved in P. gingivalis autoaggregation and colonization. A mutant with a deficiency in minor fimbriae can bind to a saliva-coated surface but does not form microcolonies as the wild-type strain does.