Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Oral Microbiota01:27

The Oral Microbiota

52
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...
52
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

1.5K
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
1.5K
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

100
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,...
100
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

39
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,...
39
Microbial Interactions: Cooperation01:26

Microbial Interactions: Cooperation

41
Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...
41
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

69.8K
In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
69.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Genomic landscape of the human vaginal microbiome is linked to host genetics and population of origin.

Nature genetics·2026
Same author

Microbiome research beyond description and association.

Science China. Life sciences·2026
Same author

Evolutionarily conserved mucus-mediated nanoplastic bioflocculation in Tetrahymena.

Science China. Life sciences·2026
Same author

GMW: a hybrid graph-based approach for post-assembly metagenome analysis and decontamination.

Science China. Life sciences·2026
Same author

Microbiota humanization drives human-like metabolic and immune transcriptomic shifts in pigs.

iMetaOmics·2026
Same author

iMetaOmics: Advancing human and environmental health through integrated meta-omics.

iMetaOmics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
10:24

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface

Published on: July 4, 2018

12.4K

Phage-bacteria interaction network in human oral microbiome.

Jinfeng Wang1, Yuan Gao1, Fangqing Zhao1

  • 1Computational Genomics Lab, Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Environmental Microbiology
|June 4, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Oral phages, or bacteriophages, are key to microbial balance. This study reveals cross-infective phages may help maintain healthy oral bacteria while suppressing pathogens.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice
08:46

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

2.8K
Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells
12:16

Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells

Published on: December 17, 2015

27.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
10:24

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface

Published on: July 4, 2018

12.4K
Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice
08:46

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

2.8K
Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells
12:16

Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells

Published on: December 17, 2015

27.2K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Bacteriophages (phages) are crucial regulators of microbial ecosystems.
  • The role of phage-bacteria interactions in the human oral cavity is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the composition and variation of oral dsDNA phage populations.
  • To explore potential phage-bacteria interactions and their impact on oral microbiota.

Main Methods:

  • Metagenomic analysis of oral samples.
  • Shotgun sequencing and assembly of DNA.
  • BLAST-based annotation of phage sequences.
  • CRISPR array analysis to infer phage-bacteria relationships.
  • Network analysis of phage-bacteria interactions.

Main Results:

  • Identified 104 dsDNA phages from oral samples.
  • Found higher phage and bacterial diversity in healthy gums compared to diseased sites.
  • Discovered cross-infective phages capable of infecting bacteria beyond their typical hosts.
  • Observed positive correlation between cross-infective phages and commensal bacteria.
  • Noted negative correlation between cross-infective phages and periodontal pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Oral phage and bacterial communities differ significantly between healthy and diseased states.
  • Cross-infective phages may play a role in maintaining oral microbial balance.
  • Phage-bacteria interactions, viewed as networks, offer new insights into oral microbiota formation.