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Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
Published on: July 4, 2018
Clonality of bacterial consortia in root canals and subjacent gingival crevices
Nipuna B Parahitiyawa1, Frederick C S Chu, Wai K Leung
1Department of Oral Bio-Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry and Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Aim:
No oral niche can be considered to be segregated from the subjacent milieu because of the complex community behavior and nature of the oral biofilms. The aim of this study was to address the paucity of information on how these species are clonally related to the subjacent gingival crevice bacteria.
Methods:
We utilized a metagenomic approach of amplifying 16S rDNA from genomic DNA, cloning, sequencing and analysis using LIBSHUFF software to assess the genetic homogeneity of the bacterial species from two infected root canals and subjacent gingival crevices.
Results:
The four niches studied yielded 186 clones representing 54 phylotypes. Clone library comparisons using LIBSHUFF software indicated that each niche was inhabited by a unique flora. Further, 42% of the clones were of hitherto unknown phylotypes indicating the extent of bacterial diversity, especially in infected root canals and subjacent gingival crevices.
Conclusions:
We believe data generated through this novel analytical tool shed new light on understanding oral microbial ecosystems.
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