Insights into the human oral microbiome.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Human Microbiome Studies
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• The human oral cavity hosts a complex microbiota, second only to the gastrointestinal tract.
• The expanded Human Oral Microbiome Database (eHOMD) details ~772 prokaryotic species, with 70% cultivable and 30% uncultivable.
• Oral bacteria, primarily from six phyla (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes), influence host metabolism and immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the human oral microbiome's composition, function, and health implications.
• To highlight the role of altered oral microflora in various diseases.
• To emphasize the potential of metagenomics and sequencing for biomarker development.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of oral microbiome research.
• Analysis of data from the Human Oral Microbiome Database (eHOMD).
• Discussion of advancements in metagenomics and next-generation sequencing.

Main Results:

• Oral bacteria composition is dominated by six major phyla, comprising 96% of the total.
• Altered oral microflora is linked to diseases like diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
• Metagenomic and sequencing techniques offer extensive data for identifying microbial patterns.

Conclusions:

• Understanding oral microbial diversity is crucial for recognizing health and disease states.
• Oral microbiome research holds potential for developing diagnostic biomarkers for early disease detection.
• The oral microbiome presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities, attracting commercial interest.