Porphyromonas: A neglected potential key genus in human microbiomes

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Anaerobic microbiology
• Human health and disease

Background:

• Anaerobic bacteria are crucial components of human microbial communities.
• Porphyromonas is a prominent anaerobic genus, with P. gingivalis extensively studied for its negative impacts.
• Emerging evidence suggests Porphyromonas other than gingivalis (POTG) species hold significant clinical relevance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on Porphyromonas other than gingivalis (POTG) in human microbiomes.
• To investigate the impact of POTG across various human body sites and clinical conditions.
• To highlight POTG as potential biomarkers for disease states and colonization susceptibility.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing scientific literature on Porphyromonas species.
• Analysis of targeted metagenomics data identifying POTG.
• Synthesis of findings related to POTG in oral, pulmonary, gastric, and cutaneous microbiomes.

Main Results:

• Targeted metagenomics reveals the prevalence and significance of POTG, including species like P. catoniae and P. pasteri.
• POTG are implicated as potential biomarkers in disease progression and susceptibility to pathogen colonization.
• Porphyromonas, beyond P. gingivalis, shows relevance in pulmonary diseases and non-pulmonary conditions like gastric and oral microbiomes.

Conclusions:

• Porphyromonas other than gingivalis (POTG) represent an understudied but important group of anaerobic bacteria.
• POTG have a notable impact on diverse human microbiomes and are associated with various health and disease states.
• Further research into POTG is warranted to elucidate their roles and potential as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers.