Selenomonas sputigena

Selenomonas sputigena is a species of anaerobe Gram-negative bacteria that is found in the upper respiratory tract of humans. It is the type species of the genus Selenomonas, with the type strain VPI D 19B-28 (ATCC 35185). It is known to cause blood infection (sepsis), gum inflammation (periodontal disease), and tooth decay. It alone cannot damage the tooth enamel, but worsen the damage done by other bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia.

S. sputigena was first noted by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1683 from his microscopic observation of his own sputum. However, it was first described by Carl Flügge in 1886, giving the name Spirillum sputigenum. In 1922, Erwin Boskamp revised the name as S. sputigena, which was approved by the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology in 1958.