Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
2-6-2024
Journal
Microbiology Spectrum
Abstract
Periodontitis has recently been defined as a dysbiotic disease caused by an imbalanced oral microbiota. The transition from commensal microbial communities to periodontitis-associated ones requires colonization by specific pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis. We previously reported an antagonistic relationship between Streptococcus cristatus and P. gingivalis. To determine the role of S. cristatus in altering the interactions of P. gingivalis with other oral bacteria in a complex context, we collected dental plaque samples from patients with periodontitis and assigned them to two groups based on the ratios of S. cristatus and P. gingivalis. We then characterized the microbial profiles of the dental plaque samples using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and compared the oral microbial composition and functional capabilities of the group with high S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios with the low ratio group. Taxonomic annotation revealed significant differences in the microbial composition at both the genus and species levels between the low and high S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratio groups. Notably, a higher microbial diversity was observed in the samples with low S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios. Furthermore, the antibiotic resistance gene profiles of the two groups were also distinct, with a significantly increased abundance of the genes in the dental plaque samples with low S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios. It, therefore, indicates that the S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratios influenced the virulence potential of the oral microbiome. Our work shows that enhancing the S. cristatus-P. gingivalis ratio in oral microbial communities can be an attractive approach for revising the dysbiotic oral microbiome.
IMPORTANCE
Periodontitis, one of the most common chronic diseases, is linked to several systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Although Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen that causes periodontitis, its levels, interactions with accessory bacteria and pathobionts in the oral microbiome, and its association with the pathogenic potential of the microbial communities are still not well understood. In this study, we revealed the role of Streptococcus cristatus and the ratios of S. cristatus and P. gingivalis in modulating the oral microbiome to facilitate a deeper understanding of periodontitis and its progression. The study has important clinical implications as it laid a foundation for developing novel non-antibiotic therapies against P. gingivalis and improving the efficiency of periodontal treatments.
Keywords
Humans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Dental Plaque, Periodontitis, Microbiota, Streptococcus
DOI
10.1128/spectrum.03482-23
PMID
38230927
PMCID
PMC10846039
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
1-17-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Recommended Citation
Wang, Qingguo; Wang, Bing-Yan; Pratap, Siddharth; and Xie, Hua, "Oral Microbiome Associated With Differential Ratios of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus cristatus" (2024). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 126.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthdb_docs/126
Published Open-Access
yes