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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

In Situ Detection of Bacteria within Paraffin-embedded Tissues Using a Digoxin-labeled DNA Probe Targeting 16S rRNA
Published on: May 21, 2015
The site-specific subgingival microbiome across periodontal conditions and its relationship with clinical parameters
Kexin Chen1, Xiaolin Ren1, Ruolan Du1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Frontier Innovation Center for Dental Medicine Plus, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
Objectives:
To investigate site-specific subgingival microbiota by precise probing depth (PD) and their associations with clinical parameters across periodontal states.
Materials And Methods:
Participants included healthy-periodontium (n = 20), gingivitis (n = 20) and periodontitis (n = 20). 218 subgingival biofilm samples were collected from PD-based-sites, including health (n = 60), gingivitis (n = 64) and periodontitis (n = 94). Samples further categorized as unstable (PD = 1-3 mm, gingivitis) and dysbiosis (PD ≥ 4 mm, periodontitis). Full-length 16 S rRNA sequencing was performed using third-generation technology.
Results:
Selenomonas sputigena (S. sputigena), Filifactor alocis (F. alocis), Aggregatibacter segnis (A. segnis), Prevotella intermedia (P. intermedia), Campylobacter gracilis (C. gracilis), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) positively correlated with clinical parameters-bleeding on probing, modified gingival index, plaque index and PD. Haemophilus parainfluenzae (H. parainfluenzae) negatively correlated with clinical parameters. Microbiota in gingivitis (PD = 4 mm) resembled with periodontitis deep-sites (PD ≥ 4 mm). Periodontitis (PD ≥ 4 mm) showed a dysbiotic microbial profile, where P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and F. alocis were key taxa.
Conclusions:
Positive correlations with clinical parameters encompassed F. alocis, P. intermedia, C. gracilis, P. gingivalis, etc., while H. parainfluenzae showed negative relations. Gingivitis (PD = 4 mm) exhibited a microbiota resembled the PD ≥ 4 mm of periodontitis.
Clinical Relevance:
Gingivitis pseudopockets (PD = 4 mm) may exhibited periodontitis-like microbiota, suggesting that such sites should be monitored as early risk indicators for disease progression.
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