Journal of Oral Microbiology (Dec 2023)

Human oral mucosa and oral microbiome interactions following supragingival plaque reconstitution in healthy volunteers: a diet-controlled balanced design proof-of-concept model to investigate oral pathologies

  • Jean-Luc C. Mougeot,
  • Micaela F. Beckman,
  • Darla S. Morton,
  • Jenene Noll,
  • Nury M. Steuerwald,
  • Michael T. Brennan,
  • Farah Bahrani Mougeot

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2023.2246279
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1

Abstract

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ABSTRACTChanges in the oral microbiome may contribute to oral pathologies, especially in patients undergoing cancer therapy. Interactions between oral microbiome and oral mucosa may exacerbate inflammation. We determined whether probiotic-controlled plaque formation could impact proximal oral mucosa gene expression profiles in healthy volunteers. A 3-weeks balanced sample collection design from healthy volunteers (HVs) was implemented. At Week-1 plaques samples and labial mucosa brush biopsies were obtained from HVs in the morning (N = 4) and/or in the afternoon (N = 4), and groups were flipped at Week-3. A fruit yogurt and tea diet were given 2-4hrs before sample collection. mRNA gene expression analysis was completed using RNA-Seq and DESeq2. Bacterial taxa relative abundance was determined by 16S HOMINGS. Bacterial diversity changes and metabolic pathway enrichment were determined using PRIMERv7 and LEfSe programs. Alpha- and beta-diversities did not differ morning (AM) vs. afternoon (PM). The most affected KEGG pathway was Toll-like receptor signaling in oral mucosa. Eighteen human genes and nine bacterial genes were differentially expressed in plaque samples. Increased activity for ‘caries-free’ health-associated calcifying Corynebacterium matruchotii and reduced activity for Aggregatibacter aphrophilus, an opportunistic pathogen, were observed. Microbial diversity was not altered after 8 hours plaque formation in healthy individuals as opposed to gene expression.

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