Gum disease gene mapped

Scientists believe they have sequenced the genome of a bacterium believed to play a major role in periodontitis, or gum disease, a finding that could lead to better approaches for preventing the disease.

The Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterium is the first oral disease-causing microbe to be completely sequenced, says the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a part of the US Government's National Institutes of Health.

Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease of the gums and underlying bony tissues that can cause tooth loss. More than 35 million Americans have the disease, the institute says.

The P. gingivalis bacteria are naturally resistant to some antibiotics and are acquiring resistance to many others.

- REUTERS