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Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Assessing the Viability of a Synthetic Bacterial Consortium on the In Vitro Gut Host-microbe Interface
Published on: July 4, 2018
Functional biomes beyond the bacteriome in the oral ecosystem
A S Smiline Girija1, Pitchaipillai Sankar Ganesh1
1Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai 600077, Tamilnadu, India.
The oral microbiome, beyond bacteria, includes viruses, fungi, and archaea that maintain oral health. Understanding this complex ecosystem is crucial for developing targeted oro-dental infection therapies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Oral Biology
- Ecology
Background:
- The oral microbiome plays a critical role in host tissue health, resisting pathogen colonization.
- A healthy oral microbiome contributes to overall well-being and protection against disease.
- The oral cavity harbors a complex microbial community extending beyond bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the diverse components of the oral microbiome, including the virome, mycobiome, protozoa, and archaeomes.
- To highlight the role of these diverse microbial communities in maintaining oral homeostasis in health and disease.
- To emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of oral microbial diversity for therapeutic development.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of peer-reviewed publications from 2010-2021.
- Data collated from scientific databases like Web of Science, PubMed Central, and Inspec.
- Keywords included oral microbiome, microbiota, virome, bacteriome, mycobiome, and archaeome; conference abstracts and book chapters were excluded.
Main Results:
- The oral microbiome encompasses bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and archaea, collectively termed the 'microbial cosmos'.
- These diverse microbial communities are essential for maintaining oral homeostasis in both healthy and diseased states.
- The roles of the virome, mycobiome, protozoa, and archaeome in oral health are often underestimated and require further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Comprehending the full diversity of the oral microbiome across all kingdoms is vital for understanding its specific roles.
- The oral microbiome represents a promising frontier for developing novel drugs and targeted therapies for oro-dental infections.
- Further research into the non-bacterial components of the oral microbiome is necessary for comprehensive oral health management.
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