Tannerella forsythia Reclassification — NDEB AFK MCQ
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Correct answer: D — Tannerella forsythia
Bacteroides forsythus was reclassified first to Tannerella forsythensis and then to its current accepted name Tannerella forsythia. It is a Gram-negative, anaerobic, fusiform rod and a member of Socransky's 'red complex' along with P. gingivalis and T. denticola. It is strongly associated with severe chronic periodontitis and produces trypsin-like proteinases and induces apoptosis in host cells.
Reference: Lamont – Oral Microbiology and Immunology, 3rd ed., 2019