Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

10:42
Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
17.9K
Composition and development of oral bacterial communities
Periodontology 2000
|December 11, 2013
Summary
The oral microbiome, comprising 700 phylotypes, is shaped by interactions and environment. Understanding these dynamics is key to preventing oral diseases like periodontal disease and dental caries.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Oral Biology
- Microbial Ecology
Background:
- The oral cavity hosts approximately 700 bacterial phylotypes, with individual composition varying.
- Limited habitat suggests crucial interactions between bacteria and their environment for survival.
- Molecular taxonomy advances bacterial community analysis beyond classical methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the composition and dynamics of the oral bacterial microbiome.
- To understand factors influencing oral microbial community structure and evolution.
- To identify strategies for inhibiting oral diseases based on microbial interactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing molecular cataloging and taxonomy for bacterial identification.
- Analyzing bacterial community structure across different oral locations.
- Investigating factors such as adherence, cell-to-cell binding, and environmental alteration.
Main Results:
- Molecular methods confirmed known oral microbiome compositions and discovered new phylotypes.
- Oral bacterial community structure varies significantly by location within the mouth.
- Changes in community structure correlate with the initiation and progression of oral diseases.
Conclusions:
- Interactions and environmental factors are critical drivers of oral microbial community formation and evolution.
- Understanding these complex interactions can lead to novel strategies for preventing periodontal diseases and dental caries.
- Molecular taxonomy provides unprecedented insights into the oral microbiome's complexity and its role in oral health.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Oral Microbiota
90
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...
90
Development of the Oral Microbiota
65
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,...
65
Development of Human Microbiota
61
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...
61
Introduction to the Human Microbiota
209
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,...
209
Biofilms
2.1K
Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
2.1K
Methods to Assess Microbial Communities
60
Microbial communities, comprising bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotic microorganisms, inhabit diverse ecosystems and play crucial roles in environmental and biological processes. Their diversity is defined by three main parameters: species richness (the number of distinct species), species abundance (the relative quantity of each species), and species evenness (how uniformly individual species are distributed in various locations). These factors together shape the structure and ecological balance...
60

