Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

09:44
Oral Biofilm Analysis of Palatal Expanders by Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy
Published on: October 20, 2011
Microbial community succession on developing lesions on human enamel
Lino Torlakovic1, Vanja Klepac-Ceraj, Bjørn Ogaard
1Department of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Journal of Oral Microbiology
|March 21, 2012
Summary
Dental caries progression involves specific microbial shifts. This study used an in vivo model to identify bacterial taxa associated with early enamel lesions, revealing a complex oral microbiome dynamic.
Area of Science:
- Oral microbiology
- Dental research
- Microbial ecology
Background:
- Dental caries is a prevalent global disease.
- Understanding in vivo microbial shifts during caries development is limited.
- Longitudinal studies are crucial for elucidating caries progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microbial community composition changes during enamel caries development.
- To utilize an in vivo longitudinal model for studying caries.
- To identify specific bacterial taxa associated with early enamel lesions.
Main Methods:
- Generated white spot lesions in vivo on human teeth.
- Analyzed bacterial microbiota using the Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray (HOMIM).
- Compared microbial communities on sound enamel versus developing carious lesions.
Main Results:
- 75% of teeth developed lesions within seven weeks.
- Significant differences in microbial composition between lesion and sound enamel plaque.
- Identified specific bacterial taxa, including Streptococcus mutans, associated with initial enamel lesions.
Conclusions:
- The bacterial community associated with enamel lesion progression is specific and complex.
- This longitudinal in vivo model is effective for studying supragingival microbial succession in caries.
- Findings support previous cross-sectional data and offer a model for treatment efficacy studies.
Related Concept Videos
Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
The Oral Microbiota
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
The Skin Microbiota
The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Ecological Succession
Ecological succession is influenced by the processes of facilitation, inhibition, and toleration. Facilitation occurs when early successional species create more favorable ecological conditions for subsequent species, such as enhanced nutrient, water, or light availability. In contrast, inhibition happens when early successional species create unfavorable ecological conditions for potential successive species, such as limiting resource availability. In some cases, later successional species...
Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...

