Microbiome Dynamics in Periodontal Health and Disease

The oral microbiome consists of diverse bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities forming biofilms that maintain periodontal health through a balance of metabolic activities and host immune modulation. Periodontal disease arises when this equilibrium is disrupted, leading to dysbiosis characterised by overrepresentation of pathogenic taxa and a shift from oxidative to fermentative energy pathways. Interactions between subgingival microbiota and the host’s inflammatory response result in tissue destruction, alveolar bone loss and systemic health implications. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and ecological modelling have elucidated the temporal and spatial dynamics of these communities, enabling development of diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapies. Understanding the ecological assembly and functional capabilities of periodontal biofilms is essential for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies with global significance.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Comparative metagenomic analyses of periodontitis and healthy sites revealed that the functional core of disease-associated communities is enriched for genes involved in fermentation, antibiotic resistance, stress response and virulence, despite high inter-individual taxonomic variability. While health-associated microbiomes dedicate over two-thirds of metabolic capacity to oxidative pathways, diseased communities pivot towards fermentative and methanogenic processes, supporting pathogen survival in inflammatory niches. Notably, clinically healthy sites in individuals with periodontitis exhibited functional profiles more akin to diseased sites than to healthy sites of unaffected individuals, underscoring the subclinical persistence of dysbiosis. These findings highlight potential to target microbial functions rather than specific taxa in therapeutic interventions.

Microbiome Dynamics in Periodontal Health and Disease publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in microbiome dynamics in periodontal health and disease across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Dysbiosis: Disrupted balance of microbial communities associated with disease.

Biofilm: Structured aggregation of microorganisms adhering to a surface, embedded in extracellular matrix.

Subgingival plaque: Biofilm located beneath the gum margin, closely associated with periodontal tissues.

Community assembly: Ecological processes that determine the composition and structure of microbial communities.

Prebiotic: Substance that selectively stimulates the growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms.

References

1. Comparative metagenomics reveals taxonomically idiosyncratic yet functionally congruent communities in periodontitis. Scientific Reports (2016).
2. Nitrate and a nitrate-reducing Rothia aeria strain as potential prebiotic or synbiotic treatments for periodontitis. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes (2023).
3. Suspension of oral hygiene practices highlights key bacterial shifts in saliva, tongue, and tooth plaque during gingival inflammation and resolution. ISME Communications (2023).
4. Oral microbiota of periodontal health and disease and their changes after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology (2018).