Oral Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi: Oral Health, Disease, and Systemic Links

Dear Colleagues,

The oral cavity harbors a diverse microbiota composed not only of bacteria but also of viruses and fungi, whose roles in health and disease are increasingly being recognized. While the role of bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis has extensively been explored in caries and periodontitis, recent studies have highlighted the potential involvement of viruses, such as herpesviruses, and fungi, such as Candida species, in the progression and severity of these and other oral conditions.

In particular, bacterial–viral and bacterial–fungal interactions are emerging as key factors in the pathogenesis of several oral diseases, such as periodontal disease and oral mucosal lesions, suggesting that the oral microbiota should be considered as a whole when investigating disease mechanisms.

Beyond the oral cavity, mounting evidence supports the involvement of oral microorganisms—including bacteria, viruses, and fungi—in systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory infections, autoimmune disorders, and even certain cancers. Their potential to act as reservoirs of inflammation, modulators of the immune system, or sources of systemic dissemination underscores their clinical relevance far beyond the oral cavity.

Therefore, this Special Issue, titled “Oral Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi: Oral Health, Disease, and Systemic Links”, has the scope to highlight the links between oral microorganisms and oral and systemic health and diseases.

We invite original articles, reviews, and communications exploring the role of oral bacteria, viruses, and fungi in both oral and systemic health and disease and the related links. Some of its focal points include, but are not limited to, the following: oral microbial pathogenesis, microbial shifts in dysbiosis, host–microbe interactions, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic advances, and therapeutic approaches including microbiome modulation and the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics—across all age groups.

Dr. Maria Pia Di Palo
Dr. Federica Di Spirito
Guest Editors

Dr. Nicoletta Capuano
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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.

• oral microbiota
• host–microbe interactions
• antimicrobial resistance
• therapeutic approaches
• probiotics