The presence of the periplasmic flagella is widely regarded as responsible for the Treponema denticola's ability to rotate and flex, resulting in a phenomenon where Spirochetes (a member of the phylum Spirochaetes, which contains distinctive diderm bacteria), including Treponema denticola, are therefore able to navigate through particularly viscous environments, unlike that of other prokaryotes.
The presence of the periplasmic flagella is widely regarded as being responsible for the microorganism's ability to rotate and flex, in addition to its translational movement. Spirochetes, including Treponema denticola , are therefore able to navigate through particularly viscous environments, unlike that of other prokaryotes. A spirochaete (/sparokit/) or spirochete is a member of the phylum Spirochaetes (/-kitiz/), which contains distinctive diderm (double-membrane) bacteria, most of which have long, helically coiled (corkscrew-shaped or spiraled, hence the name) cells. 
