The Oral Microbiota and Oral Health

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 2142

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo 271-8587, Japan
Interests: oral bacteria; biofilm; immunology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A healthy oral microbiome is an important factor that affects not only the oral cavity but also the whole body. Due to the disruption of the oral microbiota, caries and periodontal disease progress in the oral cavity. An important issue in maintaining oral health is maintaining a healthy oral microbiological flora through oral care. Various factors are involved, including lifestyle habits, oral hygiene, systemic diseases, saliva secretion, and immunity. It is important to maintain commensal microbiota through control of oral biofilm formation. Therefore, research into control agents for oral biofilm should be made a priority. The beneficial effects of the microbiome, the importance of the balance between bacteria, the role of oral bacteria and host immune factors, and the establishment of preventive and therapeutic methods to maintain the balance of the oral microbiome provide the key framework for this special issue. 

Prof. Dr. Hidenobu Senpuku
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • oral biofilm
  • oral microbiota
  • dental caries
  • periodontal diseases
  • oral cavity
  • lifestyle habit
  • Streptococcus mutans
  • Streptococcus mitis
  • Porphylomonas gingivalis
  • saliva

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

33 pages, 1926 KiB  
Review
Candida Infections: The Role of Saliva in Oral Health—A Narrative Review
by Riyoko Tamai and Yusuke Kiyoura
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040717 - 23 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1870
Abstract
Candida species, particularly Candida albicans, are causative agents of oral infections to which immunocompromised patients are especially susceptible. Reduced saliva flow (xerostomia) can lead to Candida overgrowth, as saliva contains antibacterial components such as histatins and β-defensins that inhibit fungal growth and [...] Read more.
Candida species, particularly Candida albicans, are causative agents of oral infections to which immunocompromised patients are especially susceptible. Reduced saliva flow (xerostomia) can lead to Candida overgrowth, as saliva contains antibacterial components such as histatins and β-defensins that inhibit fungal growth and adhesion to the oral mucosa. Candida adheres to host tissues, forms biofilms, and secretes enzymes required for tissue invasion and immune evasion. Secretory asparaginyl proteinases (Saps) and candidalysin, a cytolytic peptide toxin, are vital to Candida virulence, and agglutinin-like sequence (Als) proteins are crucial for adhesion, invasion, and biofilm formation. C. albicans is a risk factor for dental caries and may increase periodontal disease virulence when it coexists with Porphyromonas gingivalis. Candida infections have been suggested to heighten the risk of oral cancer based on a relationship between Candida species and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) or oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD). Meanwhile, β-glucan in the Candida cell wall has antitumor effects. In addition, Candida biofilms protect viruses such as herpesviruses and coxsackieviruses. Understanding the intricate interactions between Candida species, host immune responses, and coexisting microbial communities is essential for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies against oral Candida infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Oral Microbiota and Oral Health)
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