Genetic Manipulations of Oral Spirochete Treponema denticola

There have been more than 60 different oral Treponema species identified in the oral cavity; however, only few species can be cultivated in vitro reliably. Among those cultivable species, due to its medical importance and genetic tractability, Treponema denticola, one of the keystone pathogens associated with human periodontitis, has emerged as a paradigm model organism to understanding the genetics, etiology, and pathophysiology of oral Treponema species. During the last two decades, several genetic tools have been developed, which have played an instrumental role in the study of T. denticola. This chapter describes the experimental design and procedure of genetic manipulations of T. denticola.