Porphyromonas

Porphyromonas

(pōr'fir-om'ō-năs), A genus of small anaerobic gram-negative nonmotile cocci and usually short rods that produce smooth, gray to black pigmented colonies the size of which varies with the species. In humans, they are found as part of the normal flora in the oropharynx, including gingival crevices, and in the vaginal and intestinal tracts. The type species is Porphyromonas asaccharolytica.

Por·phyr·o·mon·as

(pōr-fir-ŏm'ō-năs) A genus of small, anaerobic, gram-negative, nonmotile, pleomorphic cocci and usually short rods that produce smooth, gray-to-black-pigmented colonies, the size of which varies with the species. In humans, they are found as part of the normal flora in the oropharynx, including gingival crevices, and in the vaginal and intestinal tracts. The type species is P. asaccharolytica.

Porphyromonas

(pōr″ fĭ-rō-mōn′ ăs) [Gr. porphyra, purple + monas, single] A genus of gram-negative, rod-shaped, anaerobic bacteria that inhabits the oral cavity. One species, Porphyromonas gingivalis, is a common cause of gingivitis and periodontal infection.