Microbial Interactions in Oral Biofilm Dynamics
Summary
Oral biofilms are highly organised microbial communities that form on tooth and mucosal surfaces, embedded within a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. Within these structures, bacteria and fungi engage in cooperative and competitive interactions mediated by metabolic cross-feeding, chemical signalling and spatial organisation. Such interactions underpin microbial homeostasis in health and drive dysbiosis in caries, periodontitis and mucosal infections. Key determinants of biofilm dynamics include adhesion factors, quorum sensing circuits and nutrient gradients shaped by salivary flow and host-derived molecules such as mucins. Advances in imaging and multi-omics have illuminated micron-scale niches and revealed how shifts in community composition can predispose to disease. Understanding these processes is essential for developing targeted therapies—ranging from glycan-based modulators of microbial co-existence to precision antimicrobials that restore ecological balance.
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Microbial Interactions in Oral Biofilm Dynamics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microbial interactions in oral biofilm dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Biofilm: A surface-attached microbial community embedded in a self-produced polymeric matrix.
Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS): Secreted polymers, including polysaccharides and proteins, that provide structural scaffolding for biofilms.
Quorum sensing: Chemical signalling mechanism by which microbes coordinate gene expression and behaviour in response to population density.
Dysbiosis: Disruption of the normal microbial balance, often leading to overgrowth of pathogenic organisms.
Mucins: Gel-forming glycoproteins in saliva that modulate microbial adhesion, nutrition and spatial organisation.
Microbial homeostasis: Stable equilibrium of microbial communities that supports health and resists pathogen domination.
Micron-scale niche: Spatially defined microenvironment within a biofilm or mucosal surface that influences microbial distribution and interactions.
References
- Mucin glycans drive oral microbial community composition and function. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes (2023).
- Dental plaque as a biofilm and a microbial community – implications for health and disease. BMC Oral Health (2006).
- Oral Microbiome Geography: Micron-Scale Habitat and Niche. Cell Host & Microbe (2020).
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