Diversity of Treponema denticola and Other Oral Treponeme Lineages in Subjects with Periodontitis and Gingivitis

Single-cell and spatially resolved interactomics of tooth-associated keratinocytes in periodontitis

Periodontitis affects billions of people worldwide. To address relationships of periodontal niche cell types and microbes in periodontitis, we generated an integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) atlas of human periodontium (34-sample, 105918-cell), including sulcular and junctional keratinocytes (SK/JKs). SK/JKs displayed altered differentiation states and were enriched for effector cytokines in periodontitis. Single-cell metagenomics revealed 37 bacterial species with cell-specific tropism. Fluorescence in situ hybridization detected intracellular 16 S and mRNA signals of multiple species and correlated with SK/JK proinflammatory phenotypes in situ. Cell-cell communication analysis predicted keratinocyte-specific innate and adaptive immune interactions. Highly multiplexed immunofluorescence (33-antibody) revealed peri-epithelial immune foci, with innate cells often spatially constrained around JKs. Spatial phenotyping revealed immunosuppressed JK-microniches and SK-localized tertiary lymphoid structures in periodontitis. Here, we demonstrate impacts on and predicted interactomics of SK and JK cells in health and periodontitis, which requires further investigation to support precision periodontal interventions in states of chronic inflammation.

Species-level characterization of saliva and dental plaque microbiota reveals putative bacterial and functional biomarkers of periodontal diseases in dogs

Periodontal diseases are among the most common bacterial-related pathologies affecting the oral cavity of dogs. Nevertheless, the canine oral ecosystem and its correlations with oral disease development are still far from being fully characterized. In this study, the species-level taxonomic composition of saliva and dental plaque microbiota of 30 healthy dogs was investigated through a shallow shotgun metagenomics approach. The obtained data allowed not only to define the most abundant and prevalent bacterial species of the oral microbiota in healthy dogs, including members of the genera Corynebacterium and Porphyromonas, but also to identify the presence of distinct compositional motifs in the two oral microniches as well as taxonomical differences between dental plaques collected from anterior and posterior teeth. Subsequently, the salivary and dental plaque microbiota of 18 dogs affected by chronic gingival inflammation and 18 dogs with periodontitis were compared to those obtained from the healthy dogs. This analysis allowed the identification of bacterial and metabolic biomarkers correlated with a specific clinical status, including members of the genera Porphyromonas and Fusobacterium as microbial biomarkers of a healthy and diseased oral status, respectively, and genes predicted to encode for metabolites with anti-inflammatory properties as metabolic biomarkers of a healthy status.

Real-Time PCR Method as Diagnostic Tool for Detection of Periodontal Pathogens in Patients with Periodontitis

The most common type of periodontal disease is chronic periodontitis, an inflammatory condition caused by pathogenic bacteria in subgingival plaque. The aim of our study was the development of a real-time PCR test as a diagnostic tool for the detection and differentiation of five periodontopathogenic bacteria, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, and Treponema denticola, in patients with periodontitis. We compared the results of our in-house method with the micro-IDent® semiquantitative commercially available test based on the PCR hybridization method. DNA was isolated from subgingival plaque samples taken from 50 patients and then analyzed by both methods. Comparing the results of the two methods, they show a specificity of 100% for all bacteria. The sensitivity for A. actinomycetemcomitans was 97.5%, for P. gingivalis 96.88%, and for P. intermedia 95.24%. The sensitivity for Tannerella forsythia and T. denticola was 100%. The Spearman correlation factor of two different measurements was 0.976 for A. actinomycetemcomitans, 0.967 for P. gingivalis, 0.949 for P. intermedia, 0.966 for Tannerella forsythia, and 0.917 for T. denticola. In conclusion, the in-house real-time PCR method developed in our laboratory can provide information about relative amount of five bacterial species present in subgingival plaque in patients with periodontitis. It is likely that such a test could be used in dental diagnostics in assessing the efficacy of any treatment to reduce the bacterial burden.

Shotgun metagenomic analysis of the oral microbiome in gingivitis: a nested case-control study

Background

Gingivitis, i.e. inflammation of the gums, is often induced by dentalplaque. However, its exact link to the oral microbiota remains unclear.

Methods

In a case-control study involving 120 participants, comprising 60 cases and 60 controls (mean age (SD) 36.6 (7.6) years; 50% males), nested within a prospective multicentre cohort study, we examined theoral microbiome composition of gingivitis patients and their controlsusing shotgun metagenomic sequencing of saliva samples. Participants underwent clinical and radiographic oral health examinations, including bleeding on probing (BOP), at six tooth sites. BOP ≥33%was considered 'generalized gingivitis/initial periodontitis'(GG/IP), and BOP <33% as 'healthy and localized gingivitis'(H/LG). Functional potential was inferred using HUMANn3.

Results

GG/IP exhibited an increase in the abundance of Actinomyces, Porphyromonas, Aggregatibacter, Corynebacterium, Olsenella, and Treponema, whereas H/LG exhibited an increased abundance of Candidatus Nanosynbacter. Nineteen bacterial species and fourmicrobial functional profiles, including L-methionine, glycogen, andinosine-5'-phosphate biosynthesis, were associated with GG/IP. Constructing models with multiple markers resulted in a strong predictive value for GG/IP, with an area under the curve (ROC) of 0.907 (95% CI: 0.848-0.966).

Conclusion

We observed distinct differences in the oral microbiome between the GG/IP and H/LG groups, indicating similar yet unique microbial profiles and emphasizing their potential role in progression of periodontal diseases.

Ancient Genomes From Bronze Age Remains Reveal Deep Diversity and Recent Adaptive Episodes for Human Oral Pathobionts

Ancient microbial genomes can illuminate pathobiont evolution across millenia, with teeth providing a rich substrate. However, the characterization of prehistoric oral pathobiont diversity is limited. In Europe, only preagricultural genomes have been subject to phylogenetic analysis, with none compared to more recent archaeological periods. Here, we report well-preserved microbiomes from two 4,000-year-old teeth from an Irish limestone cave. These contained bacteria implicated in periodontitis, as well as Streptococcus mutans, the major cause of caries and rare in the ancient genomic record. Despite deriving from the same individual, these teeth produced divergent Tannerella forsythia genomes, indicating higher levels of strain diversity in prehistoric populations. We find evidence of microbiome dysbiosis, with a disproportionate quantity of S. mutans sequences relative to other oral streptococci. This high abundance allowed for metagenomic assembly, resulting in its first reported ancient genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicates major postmedieval population expansions for both species, highlighting the inordinate impact of recent dietary changes. In T. forsythia, this expansion is associated with the replacement of older lineages, possibly reflecting a genome-wide selective sweep. Accordingly, we see dramatic changes in T. forsythia's virulence repertoire across this period. S. mutans shows a contrasting pattern, with deeply divergent lineages persisting in modern populations. This may be due to its highly recombining nature, allowing for maintenance of diversity through selective episodes. Nonetheless, an explosion in recent coalescences and significantly shorter branch lengths separating bacteriocin-carrying strains indicate major changes in S. mutans demography and function coinciding with sugar popularization during the industrial period.

The transcriptomic response to cannabidiol of Treponema denticola, a phytocannabinoid-resistant periodontal pathogen

AIM

The use of cannabis, which contains multiple antimicrobials, may be a risk factor for periodontitis. We hypothesized that multiple oral spirochetes would be phytocannabinoid-resistant and that cannabidiol (CBD) would act as an environmental stressor to which Treponema denticola would respond transcriptionally, thereby providing first insights into spirochetal survival strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Oral spirochete growth was monitored spectrophotometrically in the presence and absence of physiologically relevant phytocannabinoid doses, the transcriptional response to phytocannabinoid exposure determined by RNAseq, specific gene activity fluxes verified using qRT-PCR and orthologues among fully sequenced oral spirochetes identified.

RESULTS

Multiple strains of oral treponemes were resistant to CBD (0.1-10 μg/mL), while T. denticola ATCC 35405 was resistant to all phytocannabinoids tested (CBD, cannabinol [CBN], tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]). A total of 392 T. denticola ATCC 35405 genes were found to be CBD-responsive by RNAseq. A selected subset of these genes was independently verified by qRT-PCR. Genes found to be differentially activated by both methods included several involved in transcriptional regulation and toxin control. Suppressed genes included several involved in chemotaxis and proteolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral spirochetes, unlike some other periodontal bacteria, are resistant to physiological doses of phytocannabinoids. Investigation of CBD-induced transcriptomic changes provided insight into the resistance mechanisms of this important periodontal pathogen. These findings should be considered in the context of the reported enhanced susceptibility to periodontitis in cannabis users.

Oral metagenomes from Native American Ancestors reveal distinct microbial lineages in the pre-contact era

OBJECTIVES

Limited studies have focused on how European contact and colonialism impacted Native American oral microbiomes, specifically, the diversity of commensal or opportunistically pathogenic oral microbes, which may be associated with oral diseases. Here, we studied the oral microbiomes of pre-contact Wichita Ancestors, in partnership with the Descendant community, The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Oklahoma, USA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Skeletal remains of 28 Wichita Ancestors from 20 archeological sites (dating approximately to 1250-1450 CE) were paleopathologically assessed for presence of dental calculus and oral disease. DNA was extracted from calculus, and partial uracil deglycosylase-treated double-stranded DNA libraries were shotgun-sequenced using Illumina technology. DNA preservation was assessed, the microbial community was taxonomically profiled, and phylogenomic analyzes were conducted.

RESULTS

Paleopathological analysis revealed signs of oral diseases such as caries and periodontitis. Calculus samples from 26 Ancestors yielded oral microbiomes with minimal extraneous contamination. Anaerolineaceae bacterium oral taxon 439 was found to be the most abundant bacterial species. Several Ancestors showed high abundance of bacteria typically associated with periodontitis such as Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola. Phylogenomic analyzes of Anaerolineaceae bacterium oral taxon 439 and T. forsythia revealed biogeographic structuring; strains present in the Wichita Ancestors clustered with strains from other pre-contact Native Americans and were distinct from European and/or post-contact American strains.

DISCUSSION

We present the largest oral metagenome dataset from a pre-contact Native American population and demonstrate the presence of distinct lineages of oral microbes specific to the pre-contact Americas.

Immune-related signature of periodontitis and Alzheimer's disease linkage

Background: Periodontits (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are both associated with ageing and clinical studies increasingly evidence their association. However, specific mechanisms underlying this association remain undeciphered, and immune-related processes are purported to play a signifcant role. The accrual of publicly available transcriptomic datasets permits secondary analysis and the application of data-mining and bioinformatic tools for biological discovery. Aim: The present study aimed to leverage publicly available transcriptomic datasets and databases, and apply a series of bioinformatic analysis to identify a robust signature of immune-related signature of PD and AD linkage. Methods: We downloaded gene-expresssion data pertaining PD and AD and identified crosstalk genes. We constructed a protein-protein network analysis, applied immune cell enrichment analysis, and predicted crosstalk immune-related genes and infiltrating immune cells. Next, we applied consisent cluster analysis and performed immune cell bias analysis, followed by LASSO regression to select biomarker immune-related genes. Results: The results showed a 3 gene set comprising of DUSP14, F13A1 and SELE as a robust immune-related signature. Macrophages M2 and NKT, B-cells, CD4+ memory T-cells and CD8+ naive T-cells emerged as key immune cells linking PD with AD. Conclusion: Candidate immune-related biomarker genes and immune cells central to the assocation of PD with AD were identified, and merit investigation in experimental and clinical research.

Bacterial diversity and community characteristics of the sinus and dental regions in adults with odontogenic sinusitis

BACKGROUND

The microbiome plays a crucial role in odontogenic sinusitis (OS); however, the bacterial characteristics of the sinuses and connected dental regions in OS are poorly understood. In this study, nasal secretion samples were collected from 41 OS patients and 20 simple nasal septum deviation patients, and oral mucosa samples from dental regions were collected from 28 OS patients and 22 impacted tooth extraction patients. DNA was extracted, and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to explore the characteristics and structure of the microbiome in the sinuses and dental regions of OS patients.

RESULTS

The alpha diversity of the oral and nasal microbiomes in OS patients was higher than that in controls. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that oral samples clustered separately from nasal samples, and the beta diversity of oral and nasal samples in OS patients was higher than that in controls. The dominant phylum was Bacteroidetes in OS patients and Firmicutes in controls in both the oral and nasal cavity. The dominant genera in the oral microbiome and nasal microbiome of OS patients were similar, including Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. Co-occurrence network analysis showed decreased microbial connectivity in the oral mucosa and nasal secretion samples of OS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Odontogenic infection promotes structural and functional disorders of the nasal microbiome in OS. The interaction of dominant pathogens in the nasal and oral regions may promote the development of OS. Our study provides the microbiological aetiology of the nasal and connected dental regions in OS and is expected to provide novel insights into the diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for OS.

Oral Spirochete Treponema denticola Intraoral Infection Reveals Unique miR-133a, miR-486, miR-126-3p, miR-126-5p miRNA Expression Kinetics during Periodontitis

miRNAs are major regulators of eukaryotic gene expression and host immunity, and play an important role in the inflammation-mediated pathways in periodontal disease (PD) pathogenesis. Expanding our previous observation with the global miRNA profiling using partial human mouth microbes, and lack of in vivo studies involving oral spirochete Treponema denticola-induced miRNAs, this study was designed to delineate the global miRNA expression kinetics during progression of periodontitis in mice infected with T. denticola by using NanoString nCounter® miRNA panels. All of the T. denticola-infected male and female mice at 8 and 16 weeks demonstrated bacterial colonization (100%) on the gingival surface, and an increase in alveolar bone resorption (p < 0.0001). A total of 70 miRNAs with at least 1.0-fold differential expression/regulation (DE) (26 upregulated and 44 downregulated) were identified. nCounter miRNA expression profiling identified 13 upregulated miRNAs (e.g., miR-133a, miR-378) and 25 downregulated miRNAs (e.g., miR-375, miR-34b-5p) in T. denticola-infected mouse mandibles during 8 weeks of infection, whereas 13 upregulated miRNAs (e.g., miR-486, miR-126-5p) and 19 downregulated miRNAs (miR-2135, miR-142-3p) were observed during 16 weeks of infection. One miRNA (miR-126-5p) showed significant difference between 8 and 16 weeks of infection. Interestingly, miR-126-5p has been presented as a potential biomarker in patients with periodontitis and coronary artery disease. Among the upregulated miRNAs, miR-486, miR-126-3p, miR-126-5p, miR-378a-3p, miR-22-3p, miR-151a-3p, miR-423-5p, and miR-221 were reported in human gingival plaques and saliva samples from periodontitis and with diabetes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed various functional pathways of DE miRNAs, such as bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, Ras signaling, Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, osteoclast differentiation, adherens signaling, and ubiquitin mediated proteolysis. This is the first study of DE miRNAs in mouse mandibles at different time-points of T. denticola infection; the combination of three specific miRNAs, miR-486, miR-126-3p, and miR-126-5p, may serve as an invasive biomarker of T. denticola in PD. These miRNAs may have a significant role in PD pathogenesis, and this research establishes a link between miRNA, periodontitis, and systemic diseases.

Unique microbial landscape in the human oropharynx during different types of acute respiratory tract infections

BACKGROUND

Secondary bacterial infections and pneumonia are major mortality causes of respiratory viruses, and the disruption of the upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiota is a crucial component of this process. However, whether this URT dysbiosis associates with the viral species (in other words, is viral type-specific) is unclear.

RESULTS

Here, we recruited 735 outpatients with upper respiratory symptoms, identified the infectious virus types in 349 participants using multiplex RT-PCR, and profiled their upper respiratory microbiome using the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and metagenomic gene sequencing. Microbial and viral data were subsequently used as inputs for multivariate analysis aimed at revealing viral type-specific disruption of the upper respiratory microbiota. We found that the oropharyngeal microbiota shaped by influenza A virus (FluA), influenza B virus (FluB), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and human rhinovirus (HRV) infections exhibited three distinct patterns of dysbiosis, and Veillonella was identified as a prominent biomarker for any type of respiratory viral infections. Influenza virus infections are significantly correlated with increased oropharynx microbiota diversity and enrichment of functional metabolic pathways such as L-arginine biosynthesis and tetracycline resistance gene tetW. We used the GRiD algorithm and found the predicted growth rate of common respiratory pathogens was increased upon influenza virus infection, while commensal bacteria, such as Streptococcus infantis and Streptococcus mitis, may act as a colonization resistance to the overgrowth of these pathogens.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that respiratory viral infections are linked with viral type-specific disruption of the upper respiratory microbiota, particularly, influenza infections uniquely associated with increased microbial diversity and growth rates of specific pathogens in URT. These findings are essential for clarifying the differences and dynamics of respiratory microbiota in healthy participants and acute respiratory viral infections, which contribute to elucidating the pathogenesis of viral-host-bacterial interactions to provide insights into future studies on effective prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infections. Video Abstract.

The role of microbiome-host interactions in the development of Alzheimer´s disease

Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is the most prevalent cause of dementia. It is often assumed that AD is caused by an aggregation of extracellular beta-amyloid and intracellular tau-protein, supported by a recent study showing reduced brain amyloid levels and reduced cognitive decline under treatment with a beta-amyloid-binding antibody. Confirmation of the importance of amyloid as a therapeutic target notwithstanding, the underlying causes of beta-amyloid aggregation in the human brain, however, remain to be elucidated. Multiple lines of evidence point towards an important role of infectious agents and/or inflammatory conditions in the etiology of AD. Various microorganisms have been detected in the cerebrospinal fluid and brains of AD-patients and have thus been hypothesized to be linked to the development of AD, including Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) and Spirochaetes. Intriguingly, these microorganisms are also found in the oral cavity under normal physiological conditions, which is often affected by multiple pathologies like caries or tooth loss in AD patients. Oral cavity pathologies are mostly accompanied by a compositional shift in the community of oral microbiota, mainly affecting commensal microorganisms and referred to as 'dysbiosis'. Oral dysbiosis seems to be at least partly mediated by key pathogens such as PG, and it is associated with a pro-inflammatory state that promotes the destruction of connective tissue in the mouth, possibly enabling the translocation of pathogenic microbiota from the oral cavity to the nervous system. It has therefore been hypothesized that dysbiosis of the oral microbiome may contribute to the development of AD. In this review, we discuss the infectious hypothesis of AD in the light of the oral microbiome and microbiome-host interactions, which may contribute to or even cause the development of AD. We discuss technical challenges relating to the detection of microorganisms in relevant body fluids and approaches for avoiding false-positives, and introduce the antibacterial protein lactoferrin as a potential link between the dysbiotic microbiome and the host inflammatory reaction.

Oral and fecal microbiota perturbance in cocaine users: Can rTMS-induced cocaine abstinence support eubiosis restoration?

The effects of cocaine on microbiota have been scarcely explored. Here, we investigated the gut (GM) and oral (OM) microbiota composition of cocaine use disorder (CUD) patients and the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). 16S rRNA sequencing was used to characterize GM and OM, whereas PICRUST2 assessed functional changes in microbial communities, and gas-chromatography was used to evaluate fecal short and medium chain fatty acids. CUD patients reported a significant decrease in alpha diversity and modification of the abundances of several taxa in both GM and OM. Furthermore, many predicted metabolic pathways were differentially expressed in CUD patients' stool and saliva samples, as well as reduced levels of butyric acid that appear restored to normal amounts after rTMS treatment. In conclusion, CUD patients showed a profound dysbiotic fecal and oral microbiota composition and function and rTMS-induced cocaine abstinence determined the restoration of eubiotic microbiota.

Association between salivary microbiota and renal function in renal transplant patients during the perioperative period

Introduction

Renal transplantation is an effective treatment for the end stage renal disease (ESRD). However, how salivary microbiota changes during perioperative period of renal transplant recipients (RTRs) has not been elucidated.

Methods

Five healthy controls and 11 RTRs who had good recovery were enrolled. Saliva samples were collected before surgery and at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed.

Results

There was no significant difference in the composition of salivary microbiota between ESRD patients and healthy controls. The salivary microbiota of RTRs showed higher operational taxonomic units (OTUs) amount and greater alpha and beta diversity than those of ESRD patients and healthy controls, but gradually stabilized over time. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Tenericutes and Spirochaetes was about ten times different from ESRD patients or healthy controls for RTRs overall in time. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Patescibacteria, Leptotrichiaceae and Streptococcaceae was correlated with serum creatinine (Scr) after renal transplantation.

Discussion

In short, salivary microbiota community altered in the perioperative period of renal transplantation and certain species of salivary microbiota had the potential to be a biomarker of postoperative recovery.

High-Throughput Sequencing of Oral Microbiota in Candida Carriage Sjögren's Syndrome Patients: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

This study sought to characterize the saliva microbiota of Candida carriage Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients compared to oral candidiasis and healthy patients by high-throughput sequencing.

METHODS

Fifteen patients were included, with five Candida carriage SS patients (decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) score 22), five oral candidiasis patients (DMFT score 17), and five caries active healthy patients (DMFT score 14). Bacterial 16S rRNA was extracted from rinsed whole saliva. PCR amplification generated DNA amplicons of the V3-V4 hypervariable region, which were sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing platform and compared and aligned to the SILVA database. Taxonomy abundance and community structure diversity was analyzed using Mothur software v1.40.0.

RESULTS

A total of 1016/1298/1085 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from SS patients/oral candidiasis patient/healthy patients. Treponema, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Selenomonas, and Veillonella were the primary genera in the three groups. The most abundant significantly mutative taxonomy (OTU001) was Veillonella parvula. Microbial diversity (alpha diversity and beta diversity) was significantly increased in SS patients. ANOSIM analyses revealed significantly different microbial compositional heterogeneity in SS patients compared to oral candidiasis and healthy patients.

CONCLUSION

Microbial dysbiosis differs significantly in SS patients independent of oral Candida carriage and DMFT.

Molecular docking analysis of a virulence factor protein dentilisin from Treponema denticola with oxazole piperazine derivatives

Dentilisin is a surface protease synthesized by the cell wall of Treponema denticola. This protein aids in the invasion of the periodontal tissue by causing infection. To identify drug molecules that have better results, homology modeling of the dentilisin protein was constructed, and molecular docking was performed with the oxazole compounds (1-6) taken from previous studies that are not yet clinically used. Data shows that compounds 1, 2, 3 show better inhibiting properties.

Prevalence of Periodontal Pathogens in Slovak Patients with Periodontitis and Their Possible Aspect of Transmission from Companion Animals to Humans

Oral health and diseases are greatly influenced by oral bacteria. During dysbiosis, bacterial composition changes, which can lead to periodontitis. Periodontitis in humans is associated with periodontal pathogens such as Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Animal-to-human transmission of some of these pathogens has also been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in Slovak patients and to assess the possible risk of transmission of these pathogens from animals to their owners. The presence of periodontal pathogens in dental plaque was monitored by PCR. Amplified products were analysed using Sanger sequencing. T. forsythia isolates were assessed for the susceptibility to different antibiotics using the disk diffusion method. In humans, T. denticola, P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and A. actinomycetemcomitans were present in 69.23%, 69.23%, 100% and 84.62%, respectively. Most isolates of T. forsythia were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, clindamycin and moxifloxacin, but they were resistant to metronidazole. The transmission of T. forsythia from animals to their owners was not proven based on sequence analysing. On the other hand, transmission of Porphyromonas gulae was confirmed, but the risk of its involvement in the pathogenesis of periodontitis in humans must be further investigated.

Association between Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Periodontal Bacteria: A Clinical Pilot Study

Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by microorganisms involving the supporting tissues of the teeth. Gene variants may influence both the composition of the biofilm in the oral cavity and the host response. The objective of the study was to investigate the potential correlations between the disease susceptibility, the presence and the quantity of periodontopathogenic oral bacterial composition and the VDR gene polymorphisms. Methods: Fifty (50) unrelated periodontal patients and forty-one (41) healthy controls were selected for genomic DNA extraction. DNA concentration was measured and analyzed. The periodontopathogenic bacterial species were identified and quantified using a Real Time PCR performed with species-specific primers and probes. Results: Genotype distribution showed a different distribution between the groups for BsmI rs1544410 genotypes (p = 0.0001) with a prevalence of the G(b) allele in periodontal patients (p = 0.0003). Statistical significance was also found for VDR TaqI rs731236 (p ≤ 0.00001) with a prevalence of the T(T) allele in periodontal patients (p ≤ 0.00001). The average bacterial copy count for the periodontitis group was significantly higher than that of control group. Dividing patients into two groups based on high or low bacterial load, FokI rs2228570 T allele (f) was statistically more represented in patients with high bacterial load. Conclusions: The findings of the study suggest the involvement of the VDR gene BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms in periodontal disease, while FokI and BsmI may be involved in determining an increased presence of periodontopathogens.

The Composition and Functional Capacities of Saliva Microbiota Differ Between Children With Low and High Sweet Treat Consumption

Excess sugar consumption—common in youth—is associated with poor health. Evidence on the relationship between sugar consumption and the oral microbiome, however, remains scarce and inconclusive. We explored whether the diversity, composition, and functional capacities of saliva microbiota differ based on the consumption of select sugary foods and drinks (“sweet treats”). Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we characterized saliva microbiota from 11 to 13-year-old children who participated in the Finnish Health in Teens (Fin-HIT) cohort study. The sample comprised children in the lowest (n = 227) and highest (n = 226) tertiles of sweet treat consumption. We compared differences in the alpha diversity (Shannon, inverse Simpson, and Chao1 indices), beta diversity (principal coordinates analysis based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarity), and abundance (differentially abundant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the genus level) between these low and high consumption groups. We performed PICRUSt2 to predict the metabolic pathways of microbial communities. No differences emerged in the alpha diversity between low and high sweet treat consumption, whereas the beta diversity differed between groups (p = 0.001). The abundance of several genera such as Streptococcus, Prevotella, Veillonella, and Selenomonas was higher in the high consumption group compared with the low consumption group following false discovery rate correction (p < 0.05). Children with high sweet treat consumption exhibited higher proportions of nitrate reduction IV and gondoate biosynthesis pathways compared with the low consumption group (p < 0.05). To conclude, sweet treat consumption shapes saliva microbiota. Children who consume a high level of sweet treats exhibited different compositions and metabolic pathways compared with children who consume low levels of sweet treats. Our findings reveal novel insights into the relationship between sugary diets and oral microbiota.

Effect of Dextranase and Dextranase-and-Nisin-Containing Mouthwashes on Oral Microbial Community of Healthy Adults—A Pilot Study

This study analyzed the alteration of oral microbial composition in healthy subjects after using dextranase-containing mouthwash (DMW; Mouthwash formulation I) and dextranase-and-nisin-containing mouthwash (DNMW; Mouthwash formulation II). Eighteen participants were recruited and were randomly allocated to two groups: G1 (DMW user; n = 8) and G2 (DNMW user; n = 10). The subjects were instructed to use the provided mouthwash regularly twice a day for 30 days. The bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), probing depth (PBD), and gingival index (GI) were analyzed, and saliva samples were collected before (day 0) and after (day 30) the use of mouthwashes. The saliva metagenomic DNA was extracted and sequenced (next-generation sequencing, Miseq paired-end Illumina 2 × 250 bp platform). The oral microbial community in the pre-and post-treated samples were annotated using QIIME 2™. The results showed the PI and PBD values were significantly reduced in G2 samples. The BOP and GI values of both groups were not significantly altered. The post-treated samples of both groups yielded a reduced amount of microbial DNA. The computed phylogenetic diversity, species richness, and evenness were reduced significantly in the post-treated samples of G2 compared to the post-treated G1 samples. The mouthwash formulations also supported some pathogens’ growth, which indicated that formulations required further improvement. The study needs further experiments to conclude the results. The study suggested that the improved DNMW could be an adjuvant product to improve oral hygiene.