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Molecular Advances in Oral Microbiome and Diseases

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2024 | Viewed by 5794

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Divyashri Baraniya

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Guest Editor

Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
Interests: molecular microbial ecology; microbiome; oral diseases; bioinformatics; next generation sequencing; microbiology

Prof. Dr. Babak Baban

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Guest Editor

Department of Neurology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
Interests: innate immunity; inflammation; neuroinflammation; immune regulation; microbiome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The oral microbiome is the second largest and most diverse microbiome in human body after the gut microbiome. In the state of equilibrium, the oral microbiome maintains a state of homeostasis and health in the oral cavity. However, an imbalance or dysbiosis of the oral microbiome can manifest into a range of oral diseases. Recent advances in oral and microbial research have shown that the role of oral microbes is not limited to the oral cavity. Instead, they are also closely associated with overall health and other diseases like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancers specifically oral and orodigestive cancers. Understanding the complex interactions between oral microbes, each other and the host will have future implications in the diagnosis and prevention of various health conditions.

The goal of this Special Issue is to advance our understanding of oral microbial communities, their function and composition, and their roles in the states of health and diseases. We welcome studies of oral microbiome that highlight the emerging evidences of various roles of oral microbiome in maintaining health and in diseases. Authors are invited to submit original research articles and reviews to this Special Issue. Submissions may include (but are not limited to) the following themes:

Molecular mechanisms of oral microbes and host defenses;
Microbial interferences in dental treatments;
Oral bacteria and general health;
Oral microbes as potential biomarkers;
Role of microbes in oral cancer;
Understaing of ecology and functions of oral biofilms.

Dr. Divyashri Baraniya
Prof. Dr. Babak Baban
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

oral microbiome
oral cavity
biofilm
host–microbe interaction
dysbiosis

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increased IL-12p70 and IL-8 Produced by Monocytes in Response to Streptococcus spp. and Actinomyces spp. Causals of Endodontic Primary Infections

by Raquel Sánchez-Gutiérrez, Janeth Araujo-Pérez, Diana Lorena Alvarado-Hernández, Ana María González-Amaro, Verónica Méndez-González, Bruno Rivas-Santiago, Roberto González-Amaro, Amaury Pozos-Guillén and Marlen Vitales-Noyola

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(23), 16853; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316853 - 28 Nov 2023

Viewed by 701

Abstract

We sought to evaluate the effect of endodontic-causative microorganisms of primary infections on mononuclear cells such as CD14⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD19⁺ and Tregs Foxp3⁺. Facultative anaerobic microorganisms were isolated from radicular conducts and peripheral blood samples, which were taken from patients with primary infections. Cellular cultures were performed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with and without Actinomyces spp. and Streptococcus spp. during 48, 72, and 96 h of contact in culture (concentration 5 × 10⁵ cells/well) in a round plate bound with 48 wells. Later, PBMC was collected for analysis by flow cytometry, with the monoclonal antibodies αCD14, αCD4, αCD8, αCD19 and αFoxp3, and acquired using an FACSCanto II cytometer. The supernatant of cellular cultures was analyzed for the quantification of inflammatory cytokines. Data analysis was performed in FlowJo v10.8.2 and FCAPArray software, and statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad v5.0. software. We observed an increase in the percentage of CD14⁺ cells in patients at different hours of cellular culture in the presence of both Actinomyces spp. and Streptococcus spp. microorganisms, compared to healthy controls. This study demonstrates the role played by the innate immune system in the pathogeny of endodontic primary infections, explaining the effects that generate the more common microorganisms in this oral pathology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Oral Microbiome and Diseases)

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22 pages, 4374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Amyloid Fibrils Produced by Streptococcus sanguinis Contribute to Biofilm Formation and Immune Evasion

by Eduardo M. Franco, Lívia A. Alves, Hassan Naveed, Victor A. A. Freitas, Débora C. Bastos and Renata O. Mattos-Graner

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(21), 15686; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242115686 - 28 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1173

Abstract

Bacterial surface proteins assembled into amyloids contribute to biofilm formation and host immune evasion. Streptococcus sanguinis, a pioneer colonizer of teeth commonly involved in cardiovascular infections, expresses about thirty-three proteins anchored to the cell wall by sortase A. Here, we characterized the production of amyloid in S. sanguinis strains differing in biofilm and immune evasion phenotypes and investigated the role of sortase A in amyloidogenesis. Amyloid was identified in biofilms formed by nine strains, using Congo red (CR) staining and cross-polarized light microscopy. Additionally, EGCG, an amyloid inhibitor, impaired biofilm maturation in a strain-specific fashion. The amounts of amyloid-like components quantified in culture fluids of nine strains using thioflavin T and fluorimetry negatively correlated with bacterial binding to complement-activating proteins (SAP, C1q), C3b deposition and rates of opsonophagocytosis in PMNs, implying amyloid production in immune evasion. The deletion of the sortase A gene (srtA) in strain SK36 compromised amyloid production and sucrose-independent biofilm maturation. The srtA mutant further showed increased susceptibility to C3b deposition and altered interactions with PMNs as well as reduced persistence in human blood. These findings highlight the contribution of amyloids to biofilm formation and host immune evasion in S. sanguinis strains, further indicating the participation of sortase A substrates in amyloidogenesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Oral Microbiome and Diseases)

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17 pages, 2227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Obesity Is Associated with the Severity of Periodontal Inflammation Due to a Specific Signature of Subgingival Microbiota

by Sylvie Lê, Sara Laurencin-Dalicieux, Matthieu Minty, Justine Assoulant-Anduze, Alexia Vinel, Noor Yanat, Pascale Loubieres, Vincent Azalbert, Swann Diemer, Remy Burcelin, Thibault Canceill, Charlotte Thomas and Vincent Blasco-Baque

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15123; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015123 - 12 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1015

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the link between periodontal microbiota and obesity in humans. We conducted a cohort study including 45 subjects with periodontitis divided into two groups: normo-weighted subjects with a body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 25 kg/m² (n = 34) and obese subjects with a BMI > 30 kg/m² (n = 11). Our results showed that obesity was associated with significantly more severe gingival inflammation according to Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA index). Periodontal microbiota taxonomic analysis showed that the obese (OB) subjects with periodontitis were characterized by a specific signature of subgingival microbiota with an increase in Gram-positive bacteria in periodontal pockets, associated with a decrease in microbiota diversity compared to that of normo-weighted subjects with periodontitis. Finally, periodontal treatment response was less effective in OB subjects with persisting periodontal inflammation, reflecting a still unstable periodontal condition and a risk of recurrence. To our knowledge, this study is the first exploring both salivary and subgingival microbiota of OB subjects. Considering that OB subjects are at higher periodontal risk, this could lead to more personalized preventive or therapeutic strategies for obese patients regarding periodontitis through the specific management of oral microbiota of obese patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Oral Microbiome and Diseases)

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14 pages, 2040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Porphyromonas gingivalis Peptidyl Arginine Deiminase (PPAD) in the Context of the Feed-Forward Loop of Inflammation in Periodontitis

by Zsombor Prucsi, Agnieszka Zimny, Alicja Płonczyńska, Natalia Zubrzycka, Jan Potempa and Maja Sochalska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12922; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612922 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1174

Abstract

Periodontitis is a widespread chronic inflammatory disease caused by a changed dysbiotic oral microbiome. Although multiple species and risk factors are associated with periodontitis, Porphyromonas gingivalis has been identified as a keystone pathogen. The immune-modulatory function of P. gingivalis is well characterized, but the mechanism by which this bacterium secretes peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD), a protein/peptide citrullinating enzyme, thus contributing to the infinite feed-forward loop of inflammation, is not fully understood. To determine the functional role of citrullination in periodontitis, neutrophils were stimulated by P. gingivalis bearing wild-type PPAD and by a PPAD mutant strain lacking an active enzyme. Flow cytometry showed that PPAD contributed to prolonged neutrophil survival upon bacterial stimulation, accompanied by the secretion of aberrant IL-6 and TNF-α. To further assess the complex mechanism by which citrullination sustains a chronic inflammatory state, the ROS production and phagocytic activity of neutrophils were evaluated. Flow cytometry and colony formation assays showed that PPAD obstructs the resolution of inflammation by promoting neutrophil survival and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while enhancing the resilience of the bacteria to phagocytosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Oral Microbiome and Diseases)

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Review

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0 pages, 603 KiB

Open AccessReview

Systemic Antibiotic Use in Acute Irreversible Pulpitis: Evaluating Clinical Practices and Molecular Insights

by Shahnawaz Khijmatgar, Gionata Bellucci, Luca Creminelli, Giulia Margherita Tartaglia, Jr. and Margherita Tumedei

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(2), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021357 - 22 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1165

Abstract

This scoping review systematically evaluates the use of systemic antibiotics in treating acute irreversible pulpitis, integrating clinical practice patterns with recent molecular insights. We analyzed clinical evidence on antibiotic prescription trends among dental professionals and examined molecular research advancements in relation to pulpitis. This review is intended to bridge the gap between clinical practice and molecular research, guiding more evidence-based approaches to treating acute irreversible pulpitis. Electronic databases were searched for relevant articles published in English based on the objective of the review. A second search using all identified keywords and index terms was undertaken across all the included databases. In addition, a reference list of identified articles was searched. Studies including original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, and observational and retrospective studies, all written in English and published from 2010 onwards, were included, and an analysis of the text words contained in the titles and abstracts of the retrieved papers and of the index terms used to describe the articles was performed. A total of N = 53 articles were selected. Altogether, N = 43 (76.79%) articles were cross-sectional studies, N = 4 (11.11%) were systematic reviews, and N = 3 (5.36%) were guidelines. The most frequent level of evidence was level VI (N = 43 (76.79%). The mean percentage of dentists who prescribed antibiotics to treat acute irreversible pulpitis was 23.89 ± 23.74% (range: 0.05–75.7). Similarly, for specialists, it was 22.41 ± 15.64 (range 2.2–50.4), and the percentage for undergraduates was 17.52 ± 20.59 (range 0–62.6). The significant developments in research models for pulpitis research and the characterisation of biomarkers have led to better management strategies. Concurrently, significant advancements in molecular research provide new understandings of pulpitis, suggesting alternative therapeutic approaches. Although there are guidelines available, increased rates of antibiotic prescription are still prevalent around the globe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Oral Microbiome and Diseases)

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