Exploring the Interplay Between Fatigue and the Oral Microbiome: A Longitudinal Approach

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Medical Education
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Fatigue is a significant issue for medical professionals, impacting well-being and patient care.
• Existing explanations for fatigue, like stress and lifestyle, are insufficient.
• The oral microbiome's role in fatigue requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the longitudinal relationship between oral microbiome diversity and fatigue in first-year medical students.
• To assess how lifestyle, stress, and sleep correlate with fatigue and oral microbial changes.
• To identify potential microbial markers or modulators of fatigue in this population.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study design with four timepoints over one academic year.
• Collection of buccal swabs for 16S rRNA sequencing and microbiome analysis (QIIME2).
• Administration of standardized questionnaires for stress (PSS), sleep quality (PSQI), and fatigue (FAS).

Main Results:

• Significant increases in self-reported fatigue were observed throughout the year.
• Oral microbiome alpha diversity showed fluctuations, peaking mid-year and then declining.
• Associations were noted between fatigue levels and microbiome richness, suggesting a link between physiological fatigue and microbial variability.

Conclusions:

• Oral microbiome diversity fluctuates in first-year medical students, potentially adapting to environmental and physiological stressors.
• Fatigue and microbial variability appear interconnected, warranting further research into causal relationships.
• Modulating the oral microbiome could be a novel therapeutic strategy for alleviating fatigue in medical trainees.