Meta-omics reveals subgingival plaque reconstruction dynamics.
Fangjie Zhou1,2, Yajie Wu1,2, Biao Ren1,3
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Journal of Oral Microbiology
|October 16, 2025
Summary
The subgingival microbiome recovers within a year after disruption, with specific bacteria and functions sequentially re-establishing. This study reveals microbial interactions driving this periodontal health recovery process.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Periodontology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Subgingival microbiome homeostasis is vital for periodontal health.
- Microbiota community dynamics after disruption are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate subgingival microbiota reassembly dynamics post-disruption.
- Identify core taxa, functions, and driving forces in recovery.
- Understand periodontal health maintenance through microbiome stability.
Main Methods:
- Collected 339 subgingival plaque samples over 1 year from periodontally healthy individuals.
- Utilized full-length 16S rRNA sequencing for all samples.
- Performed metagenomic sequencing on 30 selected samples.
Main Results:
- Disturbed microbiota reverted to baseline stability within one year.
- Homogeneous selection drove convergent community structure.
- Key taxa (e.g., *Pseudomonas fluorescens*, *Haemophilus parainfluenzae*, *Capnocytophaga spp.*) and functions (e.g., metabolism, biofilm formation) sequentially reconstructed.
- Internal microbial interactions drove community assembly.
Conclusions:
- Clarified species and functional dynamics during subgingival microbiota reconstruction.
- Mapped time-directed networks of stage-specific bacteria.
- Provided a theoretical basis for targeted microbiome regulation in periodontal health.
