Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026
12:16
Porphyromonas gingivalis as a Model Organism for Assessing Interaction of Anaerobic Bacteria with Host Cells
Published on: December 17, 2015
26.9K
Modeling Normal and Dysbiotic Subgingival Microbiomes: Effect of Nutrients
D Baraniya1, M Naginyte2, T Chen3
1Oral Microbiome Research Laboratory, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Journal of Dental Research
|January 31, 2020
Summary
Developing an effective in vitro model for studying oral microbiome health and disease is crucial. Researchers found that saliva with 5% human serum best replicated both healthy and periodontitis-associated subgingival microbiomes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Oral Health
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Screening for microbiome modulators necessitates a high-throughput in vitro model that accurately replicates subgingival dysbiosis and normobiosis.
- A tool to measure microbial dysbiosis is essential for such screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test various formulations for growing health- and periodontitis-associated subgingival microbiomes in parallel.
- To describe a new subgingival dysbiosis index for measuring microbial shifts.
Main Methods:
- Subgingival plaque samples from healthy and periodontitis subjects were used to inoculate a Calgary Biofilm Device.
- Microbiomes were grown on different nutrient-rich and nutrient-limited media, including saliva with varying human serum concentrations.
- Microbiomes were assessed for biomass, viability, 16S rRNA profiles, richness, diversity, and a calculated dysbiosis index.
Main Results:
- Saliva-serum media maximized microbial viability and showed the highest species richness and similarity to clinical samples.
- Periodontitis-derived microbiomes consistently exhibited higher species richness and alpha diversity compared to health-derived ones.
- While optimal for replication, serum inclusion increased dysbiosis in healthy microbiomes, particularly due to Porphyromonas species overgrowth.
Conclusions:
- Saliva supplemented with 5% inactivated human serum was identified as the optimal medium for replicating both healthy and periodontitis-associated subgingival microbiomes in vitro.
- The study introduces a novel dysbiosis index, offering a quantitative measure for microbial imbalance in subgingival environments.
- The findings provide a foundation for developing high-throughput screening models for microbiome modulators in periodontitis research.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Development 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...
01:27The 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...
01:28Development 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,...
01:18Functions of the Gut Microbiota
The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...
01:18Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota
The human gut microbiome includes a diverse array of microbial species, including beneficial commensals and opportunistic pathogens, which interact to support host health. These microbes contribute to essential functions such as nutrient metabolism, immune system modulation, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. However, disruptions to this equilibrium—referred to as dysbiosis—can have widespread physiological consequences.Dysbiosis is often characterized by reduced microbial...
01:21Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...