[Network analysis and characteristics of keystone taxa in periodontitis]

Subgingival microorganisms can orchestrate the microbial community under the influence of environmental factors, thus causing the initiation and progression of periodontitis. Keystone taxa play an important role in the dynamic changes of microbial community. The co-occurrence network analysis may pave the way for screening periodontitis associated candidate keystone taxa in the periodontal microflora. These microorganisms, e.g. Porphyromonas gingivalis, might function via myriad of intermediary taxa or as the chokepoint community-remodeling drivers in response of environmental factors. Herein, we review and discuss the construction of microbial co-occurrence network, the way of screening and identifying keystone taxa using network analysis as well as the characteristic of candidate keystone taxa related to periodontitis for the purpose that keystone taxa and the role they played in dynamic succession of microflora could be well investigated.