Growth on human serum albumin drives large genomic inversion in Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis on human serum albumin triggers a dynamic 1.5 Mbp chromosomal inversion mediated by matching ISPg2 transposase elements.

• Why it matters: Large, reversible genomic inversions can reshape gene expression, but the specific growth conditions and mechanisms that drive these rearrangements are unclear.
• What they did: Using long-read genome structure analysis, the study identified two genome arrangements in some strains and linked the 1.5 Mbp inversion to matching ISPg2 elements; HSA growth caused early autolysis only in rearranging strains.
• The result: After lysis, a surviving inverted sub-population becomes dominant, suggesting a bet-hedging strategy that improves persistence under HSA-driven conditions.

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